Ibadan 1960 – launch event

Join us for the launch of Ibadan 1960, a digital exhibition telling the story of an art and literature movement from 1960s Nigeria to present-day Leeds, UK.

This exhibition aims to bring the Banham archive, an undervalued archival collection held here at the University of Leeds to the public eye.

A rich tapestry of art forms, writing, political movements and decolonial understandings, three BA Liberal Arts students will present their research project as part of a celebration of this exhibition and research.

This exhibition is part of a wider programme to celebrate Africa Week at the University of Leeds.

Venue

Helix
Level 7, EC Stoner Building
Vernon Road
University of Leeds
Leeds, LS2 9JL

About the Ibadan 1960 project

The Special Collections at Leeds University Library holds important material from the period of the Ibadan Renaissance of the 1960s.

Alongside other archives in the collection, the Banham archive is rich in the work of this period but particularly that of Wole Soyinka – Nobel Laurate, playwriter, editor of 'Black Orpheus' and author of numerous works on the post-colonial state of Nigeria. Soyinka graduated from Leeds in 1958.

The archive is a rich tapestry of art forms, writing, political movements and decolonial understandings. Three BA Liberal Arts students – with the supervision of Dr Will Rea from the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies – will present their research project as part of Africa Week 2025.

Cover of Black Orpheus: A Journal of African and Afro-American Literature, Issue no 6. Private collection.

About Africa Week

Taking place between 17 and 25 May, Africa Week at Leeds is an opportunity to explore the strengths, diversity and impact of African scholars, organisations and partnerships.

Africa Week will provide a collaborative space for scholars, researchers, practitioners and policy makers, working in and with African institutions, to showcase their research and scholarship. There will be opportunities to debate ideas, identify challenges and find ways of making knowledge exchange more equitable.

It features a stimulating day of networks, an edit-a-thon to raise the profile of information about Africa's rich history and the screening of a powerful film on Africa Day itself (Sunday 25 May).

See the full programme of events.

Book your place

Please register to attend here.

Feature image

Montage of the Dugbe market, the Mbari Club and Parkinson building (University of Leeds). Image by Nancy Edwards.