Breathtaking works of African art converge with exquisite international cuisine at Arami

By Prisca Sam-Duru

The kind of conversations held by some artists and the art community at the opening of a new dinner, Arami, in Lagos, according to Nigeria’s iconic art grand master, Pa Bruce Onabrakpeya, are the kinds that sustain African art.

Pa Onabrakpeya revealed that “There has always been this question about what Nigerian artists do to sustain African creativity. And the answer, straightaway, is just what is going on now. These kinds of conversations around African art and artists are what sustain the progress being made.”

The living legend commended SMO Contemporary Art and the owners of Arami for the collaboration and for bringing the artists together, adding, “This should not end here. We allow foreigners to tell us about our own art. We should take charge. The conversation should be a continuous thing.”

Themed “Celebration,” the exhibition opening on Saturday, April 18, 2026, offered guests an exclusive opportunity to engage with the curatorial vision behind the group show.

The event featured an inspiring Spoken Word performance by young female artiste Isieme Precious. Her performance celebrated creators while urging them to chase their dreams without fear.

The conversation segment that wowed pa Onabrakpeya had four of the exhibiting artists – Somi Nwandu, Nathalie Djokou, Ayoola Gbolahan, and Adeniyi Wasiu as panelists. It was anchored by Wana Udobang. The conversation saw the artists explaining the process that birthed their works and much more.

The three month-long showcase organized by SMO features stunning works in diverse media, including textile, wood, metal, lenticular, mixed media, and sculpture, by established and emerging artists from Africa and the Diaspora. There are also rare pieces from a private Lagos collection.

The works on display at ARAMI’s rooftop dining space reflect SMO’s commitment to showing art in non-traditional environments, creating an immersive experience that fuses visual creativity with gastronomic artistry.

This is Nigeria’s latest creative industry collaboration

As the art market continues to struggle to stay buoyant, creative projects such as “Celebration”, pave the way for the placement of modern and contemporary master pieces within exciting new hospitality spaces which are helping to position Lagos as a global culture, food and art hub.

”Celebration” brings together fifteen contemporary and modern artists from Nigeria, Uganda, Cameroon, South Africa, and the Diaspora, with paintings, sculptures, textiles and light-based media from the primary and secondary art market.

ARAMI, a space designed by Diana and Emmanuel Nwandu which creates a perfect backdrop to the presentation art, is owned by the L’Ori Hospitality group, an exquisite space where art and gastronomy ignite through Afro-Asian-fusion cuisine developed by a team of local and international culinary talent.

The cutting-edge collaboration with SMO ensures that guests enjoy fine dining while immersed within a carefully curated space, celebrating the best of African art and design.

Within the double volume entrance atrium, guests are welcome by bold ceramic and wood sculptural works by multi-talented Camerounian artist Nathalie Djokou Kassi. Suspended high above is a large-scale undulating tapestry, Supper & Wining, by award winning artist Samuel Nnorom, celebrating Nigeria’s globally renowned textile culture. Pop-art life-size figures by Adeniyi Adewole complement an imposing four-meter-wide abstract painting by Ayoola Gbolahan, exploring the connection between our cultural heritage and traditional value systems. Beautiful Somi Nwandu spices up the show with her Lenticular digital media works by merging photography and printmaking with optical illusion, exploring Uli, the ancient iconography of Igbo women used on architectural facades and on body tattoos.

A rare portrait on paper, embellished with gold leaf, by modernist Geoffrey Mukasa, dubbed “Uganda’s Picasso”, hangs alongside contemporary works by Chika Idu, Christopher Samuel Idowu, Uchay Joel Chima, T. Badru, Olawale da Silva, and Alex Nwokolo, creating a powerful dialogue across generations of artists.

Basking in a celebration mood, SMO’s Founder and Artistic Director, Sandra Mbanefo Obiago stated that “By developing an exciting program of curated art events and live performances we are committed to introducing new audiences to the best of African art,”

“SMO has curated modern and contemporary art in leading public and private spaces for the past ten years. We are convinced that these types of collaborations ensure we increase art appreciation across diverse publics by presenting exceptional works by master artists and rising talent within beautifully designed, secure, and well managed spaces for everyone to enjoy.

”ARAMI is a family-owned legacy project which is committed to bringing bespoke gastronomic experiences to a growing population of discerning foodies,”

Also speaking, the CEO of the L’Ori Hospitality group, Valentine Nwandu, said, “Architectural interiors were designed by my wife and son, and our hospitality training and media departments are managed by our daughter Victoria.

With its Hibachi stations, fine dining restaurant, bespoke private meeting rooms, and sweeping rooftop entertainment areas, we believe we will become Lagos’ best kept secret for where to relax and enjoy exceptional culinary delights and the best of African artistry!”