Skip navigation

Main menu

  • What's on
  • Art & Artists
    • The Collection
      Artists
      Artworks
      Art by theme
      Media
      Videos
      Podcasts
      Short articles
      Learning
      Schools
      Art Terms
      Tate Research
      Art Making
      Create like an artist
      Kids art activities
      Tate Draw game
  • Visit
  • Shop
Become a Member
  • DISCOVER ART
  • ARTISTS A-Z
  • ARTWORK SEARCH
  • ART BY THEME
  • VIDEOS
  • ART TERMS
  • SCHOOLS
  • TATE KIDS
  • RESEARCH
  • Tate Britain
    Tate Britain Free admission
  • Tate Modern
    Tate Modern Free admission
  • Tate Liverpool + RIBA North
    Tate Liverpool + RIBA North Free admission
  • Tate St Ives
    Tate St Ives Ticket or membership card required
  • FAMILIES
  • ACCESSIBILITY
  • SCHOOLS
  • PRIVATE TOURS
Tate Logo
Become a Member
Tate Modern Exhibition

Nigerian Modernism

9 October 2025 – 11 May 2026

Free for Members

Become a Member

Ben Enwonwu, The Dancer (Agbogho Mmuo-Maiden Spirit Mask)1962 Ben Uri Gallery & Museum. ©The Ben Enwonwu Foundation

Explore the artists who revolutionised modern art in Nigeria in the mid-20th century

Set against the backdrop of cultural and artistic rebellion, Nigerian Modernism celebrates the achievements of Nigerian artists working before and after the decade of national independence from British colonial rule in 1960.

Nigerian Modernism tells the story of artistic networks which spanned Zaria, Ibadan, Lagos and Enugu, as well as London, Munich and Paris. Through groups like the Zaria Art Society and Mbari Artists' and Writers' Club, they fused Nigerian, African and European techniques and traditions to create vibrant, multidimensional works.

Explore a diverse range of paintings, sculpture, textiles and poetry from over 50 artists including Uzo Egonu, El Anatsui, Ladi Kwali and Ben Enwonwu MBE.

Tate Modern

Bankside
London SE1 9TG
Plan your visit

Dates

9 October 2025 – 11 May 2026

Pricing

To be confirmed / Free for Members

Become a Member

Supported by

With additional support from

Tate International Council

Tate Patrons

Tate Americas Foundation

We Recommend

  • El Anatsui: Behind the Red Moon

    El Anatsui has created a monumental new artwork for Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall

  • Artist

    Uzo Egonu

    1931–1996
  • Ben Enwonwu, Ugala Masquerade 1940

    Decolonising Nigerian Modernism: Ben Enwonwu’s ‘Identity in Politics’

    Bea Gassmann de Sousa

    The personal archive of the celebrated Nigerian modernist painter Ben Enwonwu (1917–1994) reveals his understanding of the effects of colonialism on his own artistic and political identity, and his thoughts on the role artists should play in the anticolonial struggle. This paper brings together Enwonwu’s thinking with that of more contemporary theorists to examine the connections between modernism, nationalism and decolonisation in the writing of Nigerian art history.

Artwork
Close

Join in

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Sign up to emails

Sign up to emails

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Tate’s privacy policy

About

  • About us
  • Our collection
  • Terms and copyright
  • Governance
  • Picture library
  • ARTIST ROOMS
  • Tate Kids

Support

  • Tate Collective
  • Members
  • Patrons
  • Donate
  • Corporate
  • My account
  • Press
  • Jobs
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Contact
© The Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery, 2025
All rights reserved