Detty December might have spilled into January, but Lagos wasn’t done celebrating creativity just yet. On January 2, 2026, the J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History opened its doors to an invitation-only gathering of artists, filmmakers, producers, thinkers and cultural shapers for Lagos Art Party, a special session under the Centre’s Ariya Village programme.
Ariya Village is a series of curated performances, exhibitions and cultural experiences hosted at the J. Randle Centre as part of Lagos State’s Detty December calendar. Throughout 2025, the programme turned the Centre into a lively cultural hub, hosting theatre performances, dance showcases, music shows with DJ Spinal, Vector etc, film screenings and heritage-led conversations that celebrated Yoruba culture while welcoming contemporary creativity.
Lagos Art Party fit perfectly into that vision.
A Warm Welcome, Then Straight to Work
The evening was moderated and hosted by Wọlé Salisu, who welcomed guests and set the tone before introducing the CEO of the Centre, Qudus Onikeku.
Onikeku wasted no time getting into why the Art Party mattered. He explained that the gathering was designed to bring Lagos creatives into the Centre, not just as visitors, but as collaborators. The J. Randle Centre, he stressed, is a space built for creatives, and the goal was to open direct conversations on how artists can interface, programme, and grow with the Centre.
He traced the journey of the Centre, acknowledging how former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode initiated the project, and how Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu completed and commissioned it. Today, the Centre stands as one of Lagos’ most important cultural landmarks, dedicated to preserving Yoruba history while supporting modern creative expression.
Creating Space for Creatives
Onikeku addressed a key observation. While event planners had been quick to activate the space with fresh ideas, many creatives had not yet fully stepped forward. He encouraged artists across disciplines to see the Centre as theirs and to explore the funding, support and partnership opportunities available through Lagos State.
His vision is simple but ambitious. He wants something happening at the Centre consistently. He wants the space to build its own audience. And he wants creatives to see the Centre not as a venue alone, but as a partner.
When questions came in, the conversation stayed practical.
Actor Yemi Shodimu asked about performance spaces and crowd management. Onikeku explained how the centre can be worked and reworked for different performances and how crowd management is never an issue. He also went further and spoke collaborations with the Centre which works on a case-by-case basis, sometimes offering support as co-producers depending on the nature of the project.
Wale Odunowo raised questions around education, students and libraries. Onikeku revealed that a library is currently in development in collaboration with Jazzhole, expanding the Centre’s educational offering.
There were also thoughtful conversations around neurodivergent children and performers. The CEO encouraged producers to design inclusive productions, assuring them that the Centre is open to collaboration and creating enabling environments.
The Pillars Guiding the Centre
Onikeku also broke down the Centre’s guiding framework, YORUBA CREATE, which informs every programme and partnership:
Community
Research
Education
Artist Support
Technology
Entrepreneurship
He shared plans for a tech lab currently in the works, aimed at developing a Yoruba language model, blending heritage with innovation.
Culture, Conversations and Connection
Guests including Tunde Kelani, Yemi Shodimu, Bikiya Graham-Douglas, Toyin Oshinaike, Jumoke Sanwo and others mingled over food, drinks and refreshments before heading to Dotti’s show, located within the premises.
Lagos Art Party was a meeting of minds. A signal that the J. Randle Centre is open, listening, and ready to work with creatives who want to build culture, not just consume it.
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