Goethe-Institut Nigeria @ 60

On this episode, we got on a phone call with Nigeria's renowned  artist Chief Muraino Oyelami, who takes us exactly 6 decades back to ile-ife. Chief Muraino speaks of the famous Ulli Bier and the Iwalewa Haus, and a lot more about the Goethe-Institut's first days in Nigeria. This episode is indeed an insight into Nigeria's art and culture scene most especially in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.

Ben Tomoloju is a Nigerian journalist, Dramatist and cultural  producer with a life long career of shaping the  Nigerian cultural scene through immersive works like the African Project with the Goethe-Institut Lagos, which has posed itself has one of the biggest works done by  the institute. On this epsiode, Ben tomoloju talks about his early days as a teacher who people like Jahman Anikulapo, Antar Laniyan and co, he speaks on his work across the major daily Newsroom in Nigeria, creating new collums and shaping the public's opinion of art in Nigeria. 

In this episode, we have the pleasure of featuring Uche Okpa-Iroha, the director of the Nlele Institute Lagos. Uche Okpa-Iroha has been with the Goethe-Institut Lagos for over 10 years, and the institution has played a crucial role in shaping his direction and work as an artists living in Nigeria.  As the Goethe-Institut Lagos celebrates its 60th anniversary, we will be reflecting on its past achievements and looking towards its future as a leading cultural institution in Africa. Tune in to learn more about Uche Okpa-Iroha and the Goethe-Institut Lagos.

Featuring an exciting conversation with Remi Vaughn-Richards, a Film maker who hve had the experience of working with the institute. In this episode, Remi shares her insights on the impact of the institute on the cultural scene in Lagos, and the various programs and initiatives it has developed to foster collaboration and understanding between artists and communities in both countries. Tune in to this special episode to learn more about the Goethe-Institut Lagos and its journey over the past six decades."

Aderemi’s Adegbite is a Nigerian Culture producer and artiste whose youthful approach to culture production in Lagos got him involved with the Goethe-Institut Nigeria in the 2000s, hosting poetry portal at the old Library and a project with Goeth-Institut Nigeria's liason office in Kano, and Segun’s Adefila is an artist who curate within grassroots communities of Lagos, employing locally sourced artistic tools and networks to foster the work he does. These two young men tell us about how finding Goethe Institut Nigeria and navigating youth led artistic spaces and endeavors in Lagos, Nigeria.

Featuring Ndidi Dike who is a contemporary artist, who works across a multiplicity of fields, including painting, sculpture, collage, lens-based media, video, and installation. This episode examines the artist's interaction with the Goethe-Institut Nigeria, where she has been exhibiting her work since her exit from the University of Nigeria, Nsuka in the 80s. Ndidi Dike's approach to art is quite an interesting conversations, most especially as her work cut across intersections of art, feminism and inclusion of young artists in the Nigerian Art scene.

Sometime in the early 1980s, Ulli Beier gave a talk at Oduduwa Hall, University of Ife on the life of legendary Nigerian Dramatist and Composer, Duro Ladipo. Among the audience that listened to Beier’s lecture that day was Nigerian writer and cultural producer, Toyin Akinosho - a university student at the time. Impressed by the achievements of Duro Ladipo as narrated by Beier, he shared his intention of writing a review of the event with the programme officer of the Goethe-Institut Nigeria, Sunday Umweni, who organised Beier’s lecture in Ife. ’’ Go ahead, write it!’’ was Mr Umweni’s response. That review was published in one of the popular Nigerian newspapers. 👉🏽On this episode: Longtime collaborators, Jahman Anikulapo @jahmanoladejo and Toyin Akinosho @takinosho reflect on some of their memorable experiences with the Goethe-Institut through the years.  Produced by Olaide Kayode Timileyin 

The 60th anniversary is indeed an important milestone in the journey of the Goethe-Institut Nigeria, and we're so excited to have a variety of voices - artists, colleagues, cultural practitioners - reflecting on their experiences as well as sharing deep insights into the intersections between our work here at the Goethe-Institut and Nigerian (cultural) history. ( On this episode, Goethe-Institut Lagos oldest staff members, Gladys Iloka, Esther Nwaneri, Ado Abana, and Christopher Ekpo share their experience of working with the institute for more than 25 years, its impact on thier lives and careers. The podcast-series is moderated by the brilliant Derin Ajao (@derinbyday) Produced by our Olaide Kayode Timileyin (@oktimileyin)  for the Goethe-Institut Lagos,Nigeria. Soundtrack by Yinka Ajai and  free sounds from Planet-purple.io