Projects and Publications

A Window into the Soul of A People: 8000 years of Art in Nigeria Explore Project

A Window into the Soul of A People: 8000 years of Art in Nigeria

*A Window into the Soul of a People*

At a glance:

  • Landmark multi-volume documentation project (in progress).
  • Built on a landmark partnership with NCMM, establishing the framework for a growing circle of collaborators.
  • Traces creativity from the Dufuna Canoe — dating back some 8,000 years (c. 6000 BC) to today.
  • Builds on The Benin Red Book and expands to national scope.

Significance: Positioned to “restore Nigeria’s unbroken cultural thread and build the foundation of a true visual arts economy.”

The Intersecting Worlds of Climate Change, the Mangrove and Art Explore Project

The Intersecting Worlds of Climate Change, the Mangrove and Art

At a glance:

  • Landmark project uniting ecology, climate change, heritage, and art.
  • Main Feature: Exhibition of Paintings by Dr Ed DeBebs
  • Featured photographs of the Niger Delta mangroves by Oriiz U. Onuwaje.
  • Supported by three documentaries.
  • Extended through the MangrovePlus YouTube Channel for global engagement.

Impact: Praised for “illuminating how heritage and ecology intertwine in African narratives.”

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Essays

Before Computers: The Digital Logic of African Weaving

Before Computers: The Digital Logic of African Weaving

Originally published on orature.africa n this thought-provoking essay, Oriiz U. Onuwaje challenges the idea that technology began with silicon chips and screens. He reframes African strip-weaving traditions—such as Aso Oke, Akwete, and Kente—as early forms […]

16 Feb 2026 / Read more...
From Ivory to Silicon: How Design Carries Power

From Ivory to Silicon: How Design Carries Power

Originally published on orature.africa In this article, Oriiz U. Onuwaje argues that design has always been more than decoration—it is a technology of power, memory, and identity. From the royal ivory of sixteenth-century Benin to […]

09 Feb 2026 / Read more...
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