NAIJA SOUNDS AND VISION SCAPES: A Centennial Celebration of Nigerian Popular Music (1925–2025)
By Africa-Related, Nigeria
This November, the Nsibidi Institute invites you to a landmark cultural gathering that commemorates 100 years of Nigerian popular music and its deep visual, social, and historical footprint.
Date: 30 November 2025
Time: 1 PM – 9 PM
Venue: Didi Museum, 175B Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
NAIJA SOUNDS AND VISION SCAPES
A Centennial Celebration of Nigerian Popular Music (1925–2025)
From the seminal recordings of Yoruba Folk songs by Chief Ladipo Solanke, under the Zonophone label in 1925, ( three years after pioneer choral recordings of Rev J. J Ransome-Kuti) the modern Nigerian popular music industry emerged.
Through music, imagery, film, and archival reflections, we explore how Nigerian sound has shaped identity, influenced movements, and contributed to global culture over the last century.
Expect a full-day immersive experience featuring:
Museum Installations — tracing the evolution of rhythm, instruments, performance, visual and sonic memory.
Photo Exhibition — historic and contemporary visual narratives of Nigerian music culture.
Panel Discussion — scholars, artists, and cultural workers unpacking 100 years of sound, influence, and innovation.
Film Screenings — four remarkable films illuminating our musical and cultural journey:
Film Lineup:
‘Ije Enu’ by Chikezie Ifedobi, the critically acclaimed Celestine Ukwu biopic
‘Fatai Rolling Dollar Unplugged’ by Femi Odugbemi. A detailed and sensitive tribute to the legendary musical sage.
‘Bamidele: The Dele Sosimi Story’ by Muni King-Keazor and Ed Keazor, tracing the iconic story of the Afrobeat superstar, mentored by the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
‘My Father’s Book’ by Kagho Idhebor. An endearing chronicle of the Nigerian disco scene of the 1970s - 1980s.
Join us as we celebrate a century of rhythm, memory, and vision — and honor the artists, communities, and cultural forces that made Nigerian music a global heartbeat.