In the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria, a new art society is emerging, promising to revolutionize the way art is experienced and appreciated. Founded by Ugoma Chinelo Ebilah, an economist-turned-curator, Mbari Kola is a private art society and members club that aims to foster cross-disciplinary exchange and support the country's thriving artist community. With a focus on pan-African art and culture, this innovative initiative is set to become a hub for artistic collaboration and cultural dialogue.
What sets Mbari Kola apart is its unique structure. Located in a renovated building overlooking the lagoon in Ikoyi, one of Lagos' most affluent areas, the society offers a blend of public and private spaces. The 800 sq. m venue includes a gallery, shop, and garden open to the public, as well as a private lounge, terrace, library, and multifunctional rooms reserved for members. This diverse range of spaces will host a variety of events, from exhibitions and residencies to film screenings, concerts, performances, and readings, ensuring a rich and dynamic cultural experience.
Ebilah's motivation behind Mbari Kola is twofold. She wants to separate her commercial endeavors, exemplified by Bloom Art Lagos, from her social and cultural mission. By founding the club, she aims to create a space where artists and art enthusiasts can connect and engage in meaningful dialogue. This separation, she believes, will foster a more responsible and thoughtful relationship between art makers and consumers.
The inspiration for Mbari Kola lies in the Mbari artists' and writers' clubs that flourished across Africa in the 1960s, with the first established in Ibadan, Nigeria in 1961. These clubs were significant for the intellectual exchanges they facilitated, and Ebilah hopes that Mbari Kola will achieve a similar impact. Oliver Enwonwu, a Nigerian artist and curator, emphasizes the importance of creating environments where reflection, argument, and long-form cultural conversations can occur, free from the pressures of the immediate market.
Mbari Kola's launch is strategically timed for Africa Day (May 25th), an annual celebration of the African Union's formation in 1963. This choice of timing reflects the society's commitment to celebrating African art and culture. The soft launch for founding members will be followed by two additional phases, one after the summer and another during Lagos Art Week, coinciding with the ART X Lagos art fair. This multi-phase approach ensures a gradual and inclusive introduction to the society's offerings.
Funding for Mbari Kola is a collaborative effort. Ebilah has contributed financially, and the rest has been crowdfunded through founding patrons and members, currently numbering around 50 from Nigeria and beyond. Ebilah's vision is to attract passionate individuals who are dedicated to the arts, as she believes that tepid engagement will not solve the current challenges within the Nigerian art ecosystem or the broader African and global art scenes.
In conclusion, Mbari Kola is a bold and innovative initiative that has the potential to transform the way art is experienced in Lagos. By creating a space that fosters cross-disciplinary exchange and encourages meaningful dialogue, Ebilah's society is poised to become a vital platform for artistic collaboration and cultural understanding. As the club evolves, it will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the Nigerian art scene and beyond.
