AI & CONTEMPORARY ART

 The exhibition of the outcomes of the STARTS 'Afropean' Intelligence Residency supported by the EU and hosted in Nigeria by Gallery of Code at Institute Francais, Abuja was held on the 26th of June 2026. I was a valued participant at the invitation of the Oscar Ekponimo, Founder Gallery of Code/Inventor Chowberry App. See also dayokusa.blogspot.com/2018/08/artificial-intelligence-ai-africa.html; dayokusa.blogspot.com/2026/02/art-in-age-of-artificial-intelligence,ai.html...Four artistes were featured:

*Peace Olatunji (Nigerian) - Inputs into pixels for AI animation

*Dan Xu (Chinese) - Egungun (Masquerade) as a metaphor

*Emmanuel Ndefo (Nigerian) - Egungun (Masquerade) as a metaphor

*Pierre-Christophe Gam (Camerounian) - The projected Living conditions of Africans in the year 2065

   L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, Peace Olatunji, Emmanuel Ndefo & Dan Xu " the exhibition

Dan Xu and Emmanuel Ndefo displayed their work on the Masquerade as a metaphor while synchronising sound with gongs simulated on a computer. It was a sight to behold! Dan was simulating while Emmanuel was dancing (as if he was in a trance) to the rhythm. Peace Olatunji was interested in the inclusion of African elements in prixels that are inputs into computer images so that they more accurately reflect indigenous knowledge. Peace's worry was that images generated for African Mosques and Churches for example, reflected Euro-American counterparts - this is not useful for the African artistes using such prompts...

Pierre-Christophe Gam's focus was Africa in the year 2065 and beyond. Virtual Reality (VR), to which I was exposed, was his medium. While experiencing VR, I saw how Africans are likely to pray, eat, play, live together, etc. by the year 2065. I 'moved' from one room to the other for each of these experiences. Kudos to all the artistes for their unique creativity. I look forward to subsequent exhibitions that depict further development of their various forms of art while commending Gallery of Code and Alliance Francais for providing the platform for such artistic excellence...

Dan Xu explaining the simulation/synchronisation of the Masquerade to the audience. The Masquerade dummy is behind Dan...

R-L: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa listening to Dan Xu synchronising with Emmanuel Ndefo (2nd from right with his hand to his ear) 'dancing' to the beat...

Image from the 'Dark Room' where I saw what Peace Olatunji & I complained about as inaccurate representation of Mosques in Nigeria and indeed Africa because the Pixels fed into the system were Euro-American. It's time for us to have more African Pixel inputs if African artistes are to achieve a level playing field as regards the use of AI...

Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa experiencing Virtual Reality as regards projected life in Africa in the year 2065 and beyond. It was indeed a terrific experience...

Image from the 'Dark Room' where I experienced life in Africa in 2065 and beyond as projected by Pierre-Christophe Gam...

   

 

 

3 YEARS OF RENEWED HOPE INITIATIVE (RHI) IN THE FCT

 On the 23rd of June 2026, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) FCT's third anniversary was celebrated with fanfare at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Coordinator of RHI - FCT, Pioneer Mandate Secretary Women Affairs Secretariat (WAS-FCTA) and newly appointed Director-General Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Develpoment (MBNCWD), 27,345 citizens have so far benefitted from the scheme in the FCT. 

Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa with First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu in the background @ the event

Beneficiaries told touching stories of survival, growth and hope. First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu said 'The success of the RHI should be judged by the number of lives transformed. The testimonies from the FCT represent a fraction of the work we have done across the nation.' Present at the event were beneficiaries, government officials, traditional rulers and development partners. The FCT RHI report shows that 27,375 citizens benefitted in three years. The breakdown is as follows: The programme reached 3,307 children, 4,427 were economically empowered, 4,866 benefitted in food security and agriculture, 970 persons with disability (PWDs) were impacted, 550 elderly persons above 65 years old benefitted, 4,423 persons empowered via social protection and system strengthening...

The Coordinator, Dr. Benjamins-Laniyi said: 'Our work focused on enabling households improve food production, supporting income-generating activities, protecting children and vulnerable adults and strengthening local systems to continue services beyond our direct interventions. The initiative was built around five strategic pillars and more than 15 major interventions - vocational training, micro-grants and market linkages, food/agricultural interventions (provision of inputs, training in improved farming techniques and post harvest support).

These interventions have translated to keeping businesses afloat as against liquidation, buy supplies, pay school fees, expand a trade, etc. For 50 year old Martha Demu, a.k.a. Loud It, a tailor and shoe maker, RHI has transformed her life by giving her a sewing machine and shoemaking tools. Martha sells her shoes for as much as N40,000. She said she was directionless before benefitting from the RHI programme. RHI moved Martha from dependence to dignity. The programme has helped her teach others the art of shoemaking.

The journey of the RHI started on the 7th of July 2023 with the inaugural meeting at State House. The first intervention came on July 13 2023 with support for flood victims in Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja. The support for the RHI by the Minister & Minister of State for the FCT was duly acknowledged. The First Lady praised Dr. Benjamins-Laniyi for her dedication to the ideals of the RHI programme, which contributed immensely to her success as Coordinator.

Others who spoke were the Minister of Women Affairs - Hon. Iman Suleiman-Ibrahim, wife of the Onah of Abaji - Hajia Hauwa Ibrahim Baba (President of the 17 wives of the FCT Traditional Rulers Association); President of the Defence & Police Officers' Wives Association (DEPOWA) - Mrs. Meman Femi-Oluyede; 10 year old Temidayo (Elicited spoken word in honour of the First Lady); Beneficiaries of the RHI FCT NITDA programme (Girls in Tech); The Elderly; Persons With Disability (PWDs); Market Women and Women Leaders.

On the whole, the 6 Area Councils, 62 Wards and 17 Tribal Chiefdoms in the FCT have been positively impacted by the RHI proramme...