Afrobeat is more than just a genre of music, it has become a cultural movement and the identity of a people. Artists and enthusiasts are billed to celebrate this phenomenon at ArtMiabo International Art Festival (AMIAF 2023) which holds from April 27- 1 May at Ebonylife Place, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Pioneered by the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti and made popular in the 1970s. afrobeat has since spread throughout the world, influencing everything from fashion to dance. It has metamorphosed with an ‘S’ (Afrobeats) added into it representing a new order of today’s young artists throughout Africa, its diaspora and the world at large. Afrobeats, Afrojazz, Afrofusion, Afrofunk, Afrohouse and many others are produced, played and listened to in every part of the planet.
Recently, Afrobeat has also made its way into the art world, with artists using the music as inspiration for their work. This collision of two creative expressions creates a unique and exciting experience for art lovers and music fans alike.
This weekend in Lagos, we explore how Afrobeat meets art and how artists are incorporating the vibrant energy of the genre into their work. From paintings and sculptures to performance art and installations, the influence of Afrobeat is evident in a wide range of artistic mediums. Get ready to experience the intersection of two of the most powerful forms of self-expression.
The 2022 edition of Artmiabo Festival themed ‘Remake The World’ was focused on recycling and its benefit to the environment. It also coincided with the 90th birthday celebration of the art icon, Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya. It featured Adeola Balogun, Bruce and John Onobrakpeya, Tamaraemi Larry, Olufunke Esekhalu Ojukwu, Segun Okewumi, Oladipupo Adesina, Yusuf Durodola, Muni King-Keazor, Adebisi and Yetunde Ojatula.
Artmiabo 2023 kicks off with an interactive session
Topic:
Art of Afrobeats: The Past, The Present, and The Future.
Date: Thursday 27th April 2023
Time: 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm
Venue: EBONYLIFE PLACE
Meet the discussants:
Lemi Ghariokwu: Visual artist, songwriter, illustrator, and graphic designer.
Babatunde Banjoko: Visual-Artist-Auteur, Photographer, Illustrator, and Graphics designer.
Ed Keazor: Historian, lawyer, and Documentarian.
Miabo Enyadike: Philosophical painter and founder of Artmiabo International art festival.
Bolaji Alonge: Multifaceted photo artist, and the official Ambassador of the Afrika Shrine – The Mecca of Afrobeat.
Yusuf Durodola: Integrative Visual Artist, Curator, Artistic Director, and Founder of Artegun Foundation.
MODERATOR: Tajudeen Sowole – Journalist, and art analyst.