Culture Corner: Nigerian Modernism

Last Friday I went to the Tate Modern with my pal the noted polymath Mr Perfect (real name) to see a new exhibition of Nigerian art of the last century which opened earlier this month. Titled 'Nigerian Modernism', the exhibition runs until May next year and it definitely worth seeing if you have the chance.

My reviewing skills are slim to non-existent, being as I am very much in the "I don't know much about art but I know what I like" camp, so I will refer you instead to this Guardian article which includes an interview with the curator and this one on the BBC website with lots of photos of the exhibits.

My own photos of the exhibition are on Flickr for anyone who might be interested. Here are some of my favourite exhibits plus a small display of early highlife albums that was tucked away in one corner, presumably as a nod to the cultural revolution in Nigerian music that was happening in parallel with that in Nigerian art.

Eagle-eyed readers will spot that the display includes three albums by Cardinal Rex Lawson and one by Dr. Victor Olaiya. They will be providing the music today.

On the subject of musical movers and shakers, while at the exhibition we bumped into Allan Jones of Melody Maker and Uncut fame. It is only a few weeks ago that I was pestering him at the Slow Motion Cowboys gig in the Betsey Trotwood. The poor man will be taking a restraining order out on me at this rate.

"Mekine Wa Bo Te" - Cardinal Rex Lawson

"Ekwe Ngbaduga" - Dr. Victor Olaiya

Live clips of Cardinal Rex are hard to find, probably because he died in 1971 aged only 32, so instead here is a record by Idahams from earlier this year which samples him extensively. Dr Victor left us only five years ago at the grand old age of 89 so had the chance to collaborate more actively with the newer generation of Nigerian musicians.