Ceditraa members meeting at Pan-Atlantic Univerisity, Lagos

Photo: Artwork in Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (Artemis Saleh)
Yesterday Artemis Saleh went to visit Prof. Dr. Hyginus Ekwuazi and Usaku Robinson Wammanda at the Pan-Atlantic University campus in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos. Located a two hours car ride distance from the Lekki Phase 1 centre on the Lekki Island the campus is surrounded by nature and seems to be build in the perfect environment to study and let thoughts wander in peace. At the very entrance lies the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Nigeria’s first university museum of art. Accompanied by Usaku Robinson Wammanda and his colleague Nkem Ikeh, Artemis Saleh and her research assistant, Amani Lamminmäki, got a tour through the museum. Currently there are two exhibitions to see. “The invincible Hands: An Exhibition of Works by Nigerian Women in Art” and “Mirroring Man: Society and Politics in Nigerian Art” comprise an incredible amount of contemporary and past Nigerian art. Last but not least the museum includes also a collection of Benin Bronzes. The exhibition catalogues and virtual tours are available on the museum’s website as well.
After the tour through the museum, Mr. Wammanda and Ms. Ikeh continued the tour on the campus and gave insights into the Nollywood Studies Centre at the School of Media and Communication and current film productions by the students of the Msc Film Production.
The campus is filled with incredible art pieces, so that walking through the corridors felt like another tour through a contemporary museum. During the visit of the library even a ceditraa member’s book “Global Nollywood: The Transnational Dimensions of an African Video Film Industry” by Prof. Dr. Matthias Krings was spotted.
After that Prof. Ekwuazi took the time to take the group to lunch and converse about ceditraa, Nigeria and other matters. Last but not least a meeting with the Dean of the faculty, Dr. Mike Okolo, took place in his office and he welcomed the guests very warmly. Due to the pandemic and restricted travel and research options, this personal encounter after so many online meetings was highly valued and memorable.
