EXHIBITION

WÁKÍRÍKÉ (we are not different) is an immersive visual art experience featuring photography, Documentary film and fashion. The exhibition seeks to amplify artistic voices of emerging Nigerian creatives in the Niger Delta. Rooted in the need to tell our own stories ourselves, the exhibition delves into the origin story of the Akwete (Ikaki) weavers, sharing the history and evolution of their work, and the system of patronage by the Ijaw tribe that has come to influence the direction of this art. The storyline of masquerade plays, Costuming, and the spiritual and sentimental values of these plays to the indigenous people. The Iria, a significant cultural event that marks the transition of a girl into womanhood within the Ijaw communities. The exhibition foregrounds a new visual perspective one shaped by culture, lived realities, identity and community Positioned as a bridge between generations, Wakirike invites audiences to engage with a rich cultural and historic landscape where tradition and the future coexist, the works presented reflect a bold and unfiltered perspective. At it's core, the exhibition is a platform for reflection, identity, unity and indigenous storytelling. It fosters an inclusive space where innovation thrives and authentic storytelling is celebrated encouraging intergenerational dialogue, Wakirike affirms the cultural value and global relevance of emerging Nigerian voices, from the niger delta.