Nigeria’s First Institute Merging Contemporary Art and Film Opens in Ilorin

In 2022, the Institute of Contemporary African Art and Film (ICAAF) is set to launch in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, under the leadership of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and director Dolly Kola. The construction will be entirely financed by the Kwara State government, while private entities will cover operational expenses. ICAAF will house galleries dedicated to contemporary African art, a Dolby Atmos-certified film studio—the second of its kind in West Africa—and a color post-production studio, the first established outside Lagos. The initiative seeks to connect the cultural divide between northern and southern Nigeria. Future endeavors include a biennial focused on film and visual arts, alongside educational initiatives. Kola highlights the importance of Nigerian identity in art, with a focus on issues like environmental activism, LGBTQ+ rights, and police brutality, while emphasizing the role of women in Nigeria's art landscape.