By Ozolua Uhakheme
Renowned textile artist and founder Nike Art Gallery, Chief Mrs. Nike Okundaye is leading no fewer than 13 US-based Nigerian artists to a landmark cultural show organsied by Fulton County Arts and Culture, under Commissioner Robb Pitts and Director David Manuel, alongside Georgia State Representative Kim Schofield.
The initiative, which is designed not as an art exhibition, but as a large-scale cultural diplomacy that strengthen cultural exchange and diaspora connections between Africa and Atlanta through exhibitions, workshops, artist talks, cultural demonstrations, youth engagement, HBCU collaborations and community programming.
Tagged Threads of Heritage: A Cultural Confluence Connecting Africa to Atlanta, the show, which opened last Friday at Fulton County Arts and Culture Downtown exhibition space, 100 Peachtree Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, is featuring artists like Shayee Awoyomi,
Lasaki Olubunmi, Adeleke Akeem, Ola Balogun, Ajibade Awoyemi, and Bimbo Samson Adenugba. Others are Ade Odunfa, Owolabi Ayodele, Nduka F. Onyia, Doba Afolabi, Folami Olanrewaju Razaq, Mukaila Ayoade and Fatoye Ifalowo. The event is not only a visual art celebration as there will be masquerade performances, African American dances and cuisines. The exhibition will run till end of June.
According to Chief Nike Okundaye, Atlanta City authority signed the deal on the initiative since 2018 but for some logistics, it would have flagged off earlier than now.
She reasoned that if we start now, other African nations will join the platform to showcase Africa to the globe.
“But for the recent closure of embassy, we would have had lots of entries from all the zones in Nigeria. I love to do exchange programme with our artists. Anything about arts, Nigeria is always winning. And by next year, it will be bigger and better,” she noted.
For Shayee Awoyomi, a textile artist coordinating youth, HBCU, and cultural engagement programming, said she is elated by the opportunity to connect with fellow artists in the diaspora in rebuilding Nigerian arts and culture.
“Visual art opened the way long time ago, but we have not done much. This is another big opportunity for us to scale up the value of Nigerian art in global market,” she added.
She noted that part of the objectives of the initiative is to form a bond between Nigeria and US using the platform art and culture to showcase Nigerian rich heritage.
This initiative, she said, is also to explore other possible opportunities for Nigerian artists to earn a living as art teacher, and participate in art residency (not as visitor to US).
“They have the facilities, while we have the talent and human capital. This initiative is not a one off thing,” she assured.
The project also positions Fulton County and Atlanta as emerging global centers for African arts and diaspora cultural engagement.
Georgia State Representative Kim Schofield has reportedly been a strong advocate for international cultural collaboration, while Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts and Fulton County Arts & Culture Director David Manuel have helped expand the county’s vision for international arts programming and global community engagement.
The initiative is expected to deliver major cultural, educational, and economic benefits both for Nigeria and the State of Georgia.
For Nigeria, the project provides expanded international visibility for Nigerian artists, Nigerian traditions, indigenous textile practices, and African cultural institutions while strengthening cultural diplomacy and diaspora relationships.
And for Georgia and Atlanta, the initiative is expected to support tourism, educational engagement, creative economy development, international visibility, and multicultural community
collaboration.