A Discussion Between Pelumi Odubanjo and Oludamola Adebowale
On September 3rd, 2025, G.A.S. Lagos hosted Picturing Return: Afro-Brazilian Archives in Nigeria, an evening that traced the histories, images, and narratives of the Aguda community and their enduring presence in Nigeria. Bringing together Pelumi Odubanjo whose practice examines the historical and contemporary links between Brazil and the West African diaspora, and scholar, curator, and researcher Oludamola Adebowale, the event explored the living archive of Afro-Brazilian presence in Nigeria.
The session opened with a welcome address from Pelumi, who introduced the intentions behind her research and reflected on how her residency in Lagos had facilitated new connections, including her meeting with Oludamola. She highlighted their shared interest in the cultural histories of Afro-Brazilian returnees, which formed the foundation of the conversation. Oludamola then built on this by sharing his own research, using photographs and archival materials from Lagos, Ibadan, and Abeokuta, including images taken by Pelumi during her residency, to guide the discussion.
The conversation moved across key sites in Lagos, including the Holy Cross Cathedral, built by Brazilian returnees in the 19th century, and the Shitta-Bey Mosque, designed by Afro-Brazilian craftsmen. In contrast, the demolition of the Ilojo Bar in 2016 stood as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of heritage sites and the urgency of preservation. Together, the panellists reflected on how such structures hold stories of migration and identity, while also acknowledging the ongoing challenges of safeguarding them.
The discussion extended to Ibadan, Ile-Ife, and Badagry, where traces of Afro-Brazilian influence can still be found in both preserved and eroded sites. These examples emphasized the role of communities in protecting history across different cities in the country.
The evening was highly interactive, with the audience contributing reflections and ideas for heritage preservation. Suggestions ranged from community-led documentation projects to the use of digital platforms for expanding access to archives. The event concluded with a shared recognition of the urgent need to preserve Afro-Brazilian heritage and to encourage both communities and authorities to take an active role in protecting these cultural legacies for the future.
Event Details
Date: 3rd September, 2025
Time: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Location: 9b, Hakeem Dickson Drive, off T.F. Kuboye Road, Oniru, Lagos
About the Speakers
Pelumi Odubanjo
Pelumi Odubanjo is a British-Nigeria curator, writer, and PhD researcher who works between Glasgow and London with a focus on exploring creative dialogues across global Black geographies. Pelumi is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Glasgow and a recipient of the James McCune Smith Scholarship, where she is researching the historical and contemporary relationship between Brazil and Nigeria through the production of vernacular images. Pelumi is a Curator at the Glasgow International and is the ICF’s (The International Curator’s Forum) Ten.8 Research & Curatorial Fellow.
Photo of Pelumi Odubanjo. Image courtesy of the artist.
Oludamola Adebowale
Oludamola Adebowale is a distinguished Nigerian archivist, historian, writer, and curator, deeply committed to preserving and sharing the country’s rich cultural and historical heritage. His expertise in Nigerian history and culture is supported by a diverse academic background spanning Estate Management from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Integrated Branding and Copywriting from Orange Academy; Business and Marketing Development from the Lagos Entrepreneurial Business School; and Copyright and Intellectual Property Law through the CopyrightX programme, offered by Harvard Law School in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (University of Lagos).
He is also the creative director and founder of ASIRI Magazine, Nigeria’s foremost platform for history, archival materials, and well-researched cultural content. His work with ASIRI Magazine has been cited and referenced by top colleges, universities, and academic institutions across the world. He is a regular contributor to the Arts and Culture pages of Guardian Life, the Sunday magazine of Nigeria’s Guardian newspaper. His groundbreaking articles—such as Women Arise in the Face of Misogyny: A Cultural and Historical Perspective; Jaja of Opobo: Rivers of Oil and Blood; Re-Discovering Benin Art: A Universal Vessel for Cultural Importance; and ÀBÍKÚ: A Thin Line Between Tradition and Science—have been widely read and cited by scholars within and beyond Nigeria.
In 2020, Oludamola was among a select group of Nigerians invited by the Horniman Museums and Gardens (UK) to participate in the #ThenAndNow: Nigeria at 60 Interrogative Project. As a heritage specialist, his work on the importance of language was cited by France Info Africa, a major French news outlet, in its coverage of the disqualification of Genevieve Nnaji’s film Lionheart from the 2020 Academy Awards.
Photo of Oludamola Adebowale. Image courtesy of The Guardian Life.
Pelumi’s residency is generously supported through funding from the James McCune Smith Scholarship at the University of Glasgow.
