The Black Muse Art Festival will return to Benin City from November 7 to 10, 2026, for its second edition, bringing together artists, writers, curators and cultural practitioners from Africa and the diaspora for four days of exhibitions, intellectual exchange and cultural exploration.
Organised by Angels and Muse, a non-profit founded in 2018 by renowned artist Victor Ehikhamenor, the festival has emerged as a platform for exploring African creativity, indigenous knowledge and contemporary cultural expression.
This year’s edition, themed “For Those Who Astonish the Gods,” draws inspiration from Ben Okri’s novel, “Astonishing the Gods,” and will explore imagination, transformation and the possibilities of artistic expression.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ session in Lagos on October 23, Ehikhamenor said the festival was conceived as more than a conventional arts gathering, emphasising its mission to create a space where creative minds could exchange ideas, develop new works and shape the future of African culture.
“Our mission is not to create just another festival, but to build a space where artists, writers, architects, thinkers and cultural practitioners would come together to exchange ideas, create new work, and maintain different possibilities for a cultural future,” he said.
Ehikhamenor added that the initiative seeks to create an environment where artists can expand their creative horizons, engage with existing knowledge and strengthen their connections with the communities around them.
The 2026 programme will feature a sculpture park exhibition and the unveiling of the Azagba Pavilion, a purpose-designed structure intended to bring artists together and encourage creative collaboration.
Festival programme director Roli O’Tsemaye said the theme would encourage participants to reflect on imagination, transformation and self-discovery while broadening conversations around art beyond conventional gallery exhibitions.
She explained that the festival would examine the connections between artistic practice, indigenous knowledge, ecology, education and collective memory.
The programme will also feature an ecological workshop designed to encourage participants to engage with environmental issues and sustainable practices, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to connecting artistic expression with broader social and environmental concerns.
Beyond the exhibitions and workshops, organisers are seeking support for an initiative to donate 1,000 books to children in Benin City, highlighting the festival’s educational and community engagement objectives.
Several artists and cultural practitioners are expected to contribute distinctive perspectives to the programme.
Jonathan Chambalin will explore the artistic possibilities of cactus plants, while Temitayo Badru will examine Yoruba mythology and the concept of destiny through an installation featuring 401 caps, each representing a deity.
Filmmaker Okojie Okhaifo will also screen “Rhythm of the Spirits,” a documentary examining Igbabonelimhin, the masquerade dance-theatre tradition of the Esan people of Edo State.
With its blend of visual art, literature, indigenous knowledge, environmental engagement and film, the second edition of the Black Muse Art Festival is set to deepen conversations about African cultural identity and provide a platform for creative collaboration in Benin City.
