A powerful new art exhibition is set to open in Lagos, bringing together history, spirituality, and creativity under one roof.

Titled “Anyanwu: The New Light”, the group exhibition will run from September 6 to 28, 2025, at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos. Organized by Art Bridge Project, the show explores the deep connection between human destiny, cosmic forces, and Igbo cosmology.

The lineup features an exciting mix of artists, including Emmah Mbanefo, Chinwe Uwatse, Obi Okigbo, JC Bright, Mobolaji Otuyelu, and Chiagoziem Orji. Each artist brings a unique perspective—through sculpture, painting, digital art, and mixed media—reclaiming Africa’s ancestral narratives and weaving them into today’s conversations about healing, identity, and community.

Curator Tony Agbapuonwu explained that the exhibition isn’t just about art, but about rediscovering African spirituality, knowledge systems, and the role of creativity in preserving cultural memory. From Onitsha-inspired sculptures to uli-based social commentaries, and from artistic interventions on African artifacts in Western museums to works inspired by food-sharing traditions and masquerade dances, the show promises a multi-sensory journey into Africa’s past, present, and future.

Speaking about its wider meaning, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, Obi of Onitsha, noted:

“Anyanwu: The New Light embodies the transformation we collectively seek in envisioning a new Nigeria and building upon the wisdom of our ancestors.”

Beyond the physical showcase, the project will also produce an archival book-catalogue and a short documentary on Igbo cosmology, ensuring its ideas live beyond the gallery space.

Ultimately, “Anyanwu: The New Light” challenges audiences to step outside Eurocentric views and reconnect with African roots, while raising pressing questions about repatriation, cultural identity, and how art can act as a vessel for healing and transformation.