Professor Okeke-Agulu with Ghanian artist and fellow Aka Circle member, El Anatsui.
Kó Artspace is pleased to present Kindred Spirits: A Gathering of the Aka Circle of Artists, showcasing the works of fifteen members of the Aka Circle, a pioneering collective of contemporary Nigerian artists. Founded in 1985 by El Anatsui and Obiora Udechukwu, the Aka Circle was a significant force in Nigeria's art scene, challenging Western art conventions and pushing the boundaries of artistic exploration. The group was known for its innovative and radical studio practices and held exhibitions in Enugu and Lagos during the 1980s and 1990s. This exhibition reunites the artists for the first time in nearly two decades, celebrating their diverse creative directions and contributions to Nigerian art.
Princeton Professor and Director Africa World Initiative, Prof. Chika Okeke-Agulu with Princeton Graduate Student and curator of the exhibition, Iheanyi Onwuegbucha after the public lecture presented by Prof Okeke-Agulu.
The Aka Circle, established during the challenging economic and political climate of 1980s Nigeria, provided a vital space for collaboration and mutual support among artists, offering a platform for creative experimentation and exhibition. The group's name, *Aka* (meaning "hand" in Igbo) symbolized their desire to maintain individual artistic identities while coming together as a collective of "kindred spirits" rather than forming a formal movement or school.
The exhibition coincides with the 80th birthday of El Anatsui and marks the 50th anniversary of his arrival in Nigeria, celebrating his pivotal role in the Nigerian art scene. Anatsui's influence is central to forming the Aka Circle, and this exhibition honors both his legacy and that of the group. It also reflects on the intellectual and artistic cross-pollination in post-colonial Eastern Nigeria, capturing the spirit of artistic experimentation that defined the Aka Circle’s era.
In addition to the exhibition, Professor Chika Okeke-Agulu delivered a public lecture, followed by a forthcoming publication that will offer a critical evaluation of the Aka Circle’s impact over the past 40 years. This publication will feature essays by prominent scholars, further cementing the Aka Circle's importance in the history of contemporary African art.
A section of the Kindred Spirits exhibition showing Professor Okeke-Agulu’s work “Naked Soldier” (center) and the works of other Aka artists Obiora Udechukwu (left), Ifedioramma Dike (right) and Chris Afuba (right).
Professor Okeke-Agulu with Nigerian artist Bruce Onobrakpeya after the public lecture.
Guests at the vernissage for the exhibition Kindred Spirit: A Gathering of the Aka Circle of Artists
