ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Olukemi Lijadu's 'Feedback' at Spike Island Features Wura Samba Ensemble

exhibition · 2026-05-08

Olukemi Lijadu's exhibition 'Feedback' at Spike Island in Bristol includes a film featuring the Wura Samba Ensemble, five percussionists in red Agbada robes performing on Badagry beach, Nigeria. The ensemble uses the Dùndún (talking drum), an hourglass-shaped West African instrument that mimics human speech. The film explores the drum as both medium and message, historically used for distant communication. The exhibition runs in 2026.

Key facts

  • Exhibition titled 'Feedback' by Olukemi Lijadu at Spike Island, Bristol.
  • Film features Wura Samba Ensemble, five percussionists in red Agbada robes.
  • Performance filmed on Badagry beach, south-west coast of Nigeria.
  • Dùndún (talking drum) is used, an hourglass-shaped West African instrument.
  • Talking drum can imitate human speech through pitch modulations.
  • Historically used for communication between distant communities.
  • Exhibition year is 2026.
  • Installation shots by Rob Harris.

Entities

Artists

  • Olukemi Lijadu

Institutions

  • Spike Island
  • Wura Samba Ensemble

Locations

  • Bristol
  • United Kingdom
  • Badagry
  • Nigeria

Sources