A TASTE OF CULTURE
12 MUST – VISIT CULTURE SPOTS

1. QUINTESSENCE (ART + CRAFT)
Quintessence is a tasteful and exclusive art gallery and gift shop, with a wide range of authentic arts, crafts, furnishing and textiles that include woven fabrics like aso-oke, cloth from okene and akwete and various fabrics from Nigeria and other countries. Other products offered include jewelry, books , toys, bags, clothing for children and adults, home furnishings such as placements, throw pillows and duvets for both local and international markets, ceramics and other traditional sculptures, all, celebrating Africa.

Reference:
Plot 13, Block 44 by Parkview Estate Gate, off Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
69 Admiralty Way, Jack House Lekki, Lagos
Tel: 0803 327 5401
Open weekdays and Saturdays 9am – 6pm.
www.quintessenceltd.com

2. THE NIKE ART GALLERY
The Nike Centre for Art and Culture is a gallery on 5 floors and is home to rich and vast collection of paintings, sculpture and works, which are deeply rooted in the diversity of the Nigerian and African culture. It is owned and run by Chief Mrs. Nike Davies-Okundayo, a professional textile artist and painter, who at a young age was introduced into a world of art and textile making by her great-grand mother. She has had over 102 solo art exhibitions and 36 group art exhibitions and her work can be found in museums all over the world.

Reference:
No. 2 Elegushi Road, 3rd round-about, Lekki – Epe Expressway, and
Ikate Cross Road, Lekki Phase 1, Lekki Peninsula, Lagos, Nigeria.
Tel: 0803 409 6656, 0803 303 6969, 01 270 5964/5.
Open weekdays and weekends.
www.nikeart.com

3. TERRA KULTURE (NIGERIAN CULTURAL CENTRE)
TERRA CULTURE is a cultural centre that provides a venue and the ambience for Nigerians and foreigners alike to learn our culture and languages. Theatre at Terra is an initiative that’s meant to promote African drama and other creative performances. It has witnessed world-class performances of works by authors such as Ola Rotimi, Chinua Achebe, Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, and many others.

Reference:
1376, Tiamiyu Savage, Victoria Island, Lagos
Tel: 01-2700588, 08023861412
Open weekdays and weekends
www.terrakulture.com

4. THE JAEKEL HOUSE MUSEUM
The Jaekel house is a beautifully restored classic colonial mansion, located within the grounds of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Ebute-Metta, which is on Lagos mainland. It is now a Mini Museum and a Photo Exhibition celebrating the prime of the Nigerian Railway Corporation during colonial times.

Reference:
Qtr 17, Federal Road, Railway Compound, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Nigeria
Phone: 08023638490
Open weekdays and weekends

5. THE JAZZ HOLE
Jazzhole in Ikoyi is a rare music store, a bookstore and a coffee shop all rolled into one. As the name implies, there’s a huge selection of jass music but it is a place to go for the latest CD’s by international and local artists.

Reference:
168 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
Phone: 01 4805222
Open weekdays and saturdays
Sunday events are advertised ahead of time.
www.glendorabooks.net

6. THE NATIONAL MUSEUM (AT ONIKAN)
The National Museum was founded by the English archaeologist Kenneth Murray. He had arrived in Nigeria in 1927 and initially worked as an art teacher. One of his students was the prolific and renowned artist Ben Enwonwu. It is important to note that there are no cameras allowed in the Museum.

Reference:
King George V Road, Onikan, Lagos.
Tel: 01-2636005
Open weekdays from 9am – 5pm

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7. CRAFT MARKET – LEKKI
The Lekki Craft Market is a quintessential open air African market, where close to everything you need is available for sale; from furniture to food, from paintings to table cloths and CD’s; the list goes on. This market will engage all of your senses and emotions, as such one should come prepared to buy several items from this market.

Reference:
The Lekki Craft Market has no website, or contact information, so you’ll have to rely on your hotel staff and taxi driver to get you there. This market is a must for every visitor to Lagos.
A 25-minute drive from central Victoria Island, it is located 3km after the Lekki – Epe express toll gate.
Most taxis know how to get there.
Open weekdays and weekends.

8. THE MUSON CENTRE
The Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), amongst other things seeks to promote the performance and enjoyment of classical music and the performance arts, and enhance inter-cultural development of the Nigerian people and society. Muson has its own choir and Symphony Orchestra, periodically staging concerts that convey the richness and elegance of classical music.

Reference:
Muson Centre, 8/9 Marina, Onikan, Lagos.
Tel: 01-7401329, 01-7401330
Check the web site for event listings.
www.m-u-s-o-n.com

9. THE SIGNATURE GALLERY
Signature was established in 1992, to cater for the framing and promotion of African art. They have since expanded their product lines to include furniture and accessories as well as architectural interior design but the gallery remains a veritable source of some excellent works of art, art installations and sculpture.

Reference:
107 Awolowo Road, Lagos.
Phone: 234 8033177676, 01-7760900
Open weekdays and Saturdays
signatureartgallery@yahoo.com

10. THE NATIONAL ARTS THEATRE (IGANMU , LAGOS)
Acknowledged as an architectural and cultural landmark, the National Arts Theatre complex covers an area of about 23,000 square meters and stands well over 31 meters high. It houses the National gallery of modern Nigerian Art, Nigerian crafts and other African arts. The best time to visit is between 10:00am and 3:00pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays as this when all the galleries are open.

Reference:
The National Arts Theatre, Lagos,
Address: Iganmu Intersection
Phone: 01 283 0200
Open Tue – Fri: 10am – 6pm, Sat: 12pm – 6pm

11. THE AYO BANKOLE CENTRE (FOR ARTS & CULTURAL EXPRESSION)
For lovers of music, The Ayo Bankole Centre for Arts and Cultural Expression is worth a visit. Situated in Surulere, a popular suburb on the city’s mainland, it holds a monthly jazz and “old skool” classics evening on the last weekend of every month. In addition to the resident band, various Nigerian and international acts perform live, treating visitors to jazz performances and classic hits across various genres.
The centre is named after the legend, late Theophilus Ayoola Bankole, musicologist, organist and composer, whose compositions blended with elements of traditional Nigerian music with Western classical music.

Reference:
The Ayo Bankole Centre for Arts and Cultural Expression
32, Yesufu Sanusi Street, Surulere, Lagos
Phone: 08023163407
Open weekend of the last month

12. CULTURAL EVENTS @ FREEDOM PARK
Freedom park, the memorial and leisure park used to be an old prison during colonial times, but today is one of the venues that play host to a number of festivals and cultural activities. From film screenings to the black heritage Festival, and from music concerts and shows to art exhibitions.

Reference:
Old prison ground, beside Island Maternity Hospital, Broad street, Lagos.
Tel: 01-8428440
Open weekdays and weekends
www.freedomparklagos.com