Ages of Nigerian art at the Abuja Velodrome

The recently restructured Velodrome in Abuja is hosting a major exhibition which celebrates Nigeria's visual arts and is curated by artist Jerry Buhari of Ahmadu Bello university, Uwa Usen, national president of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), and museum director Nat Mayo Adediran.

The highlight of the show is Ben Enwonwu's 1957 bronze sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II which has not been seen in public since it was exhibited in the former houses of parliament in Lagos in the late 1950s. All the big names in Nigerian art are included in the show: Cyril Nwokoli's 15 feet-high wooden sculpture Okonkwo as well as work by Ben Osawe, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Nike Davies-Okundaiye and Kolade Oshinowo.

The artwork is on loan from the National Gallery of Art, the National Council for Arts and Culture, and the Society of Nigerian Artists. Up to 13 educational institutions including the fine art departments of Uyo and Ahmadu Bello universities also lent art works.

In addition to contemporary art, Nigeria