‘Nigerian modernism’ was not one movement but many – a fact made plain by this survey, which charts how the country’s artists reacted to and against Western traditions and were inspired by their own (8 October–10 May 2026). Though it is timed to mark 65 years after Nigeria’s declaration of independence from British rule, the show also includes work made in the 1940s and ’50s. This includes some 60 paintings and sculptures by Ben Enwonwu, which comprise nearly a quarter of all the works on display, as befits his stature as an artist. Together they tell one story among the many narratives on offer in the exhibition: of how Nigeria forged its own identity in the decades leading up to, and after, independence.
Find out more from Tate Modern’s website.
Preview below | View Apollo’s Art Diary
