Documenting Heritage: Apena Tope Adebanji at Oshodi Arts Gallery

By Salami Adeyinka

There is a certain quiet magic that lingers inside Oshodi Arts Gallery, located opposite NASTAT Akasolori along Jendol Road in Sabo Ikorodu Lagos. It is the kind of place where the past does not merely sit on shelves or hang on walls, but seems to breathe softly in the air. And in recent times, no one has captured this living presence with more sincerity than visual storyteller Apena Adebanji.

Adebanji approaches the gallery with the sensibility of someone who understands that art is not only seen, it is felt. Her presence in the space is gentle and observant, and she moves as if each artwork deserves its own moment of silence before being photographed. This intentional slowness gives her images their emotional depth. She allows the gallery to reveal itself to her, and in doing so, she reveals it to the world.

The wooden sculptures stand like ancestors welcoming visitors into a living archive. Their tall, graceful forms convey memory, spirituality and the quiet strength found in many African traditions. Through Tope’s lens, these sculptures become more than figures carved from wood. They become symbols of endurance and continuity, reminders of the stories that hold communities together.

Her documentation of the beadwork is just as evocative. She captures the ceremonial crowns, ornaments and patterned creations with a glow that highlights their cultural significance. Each bead seems to whisper its own history, reflecting the meticulous labour and deep heritage embedded in Yoruba artistry. In her hands, these pieces speak not only of beauty but of identity.

A painting of women in coral beads and traditional attire becomes a tribute to unity and sisterhood. Tope frames the work in a way that emphasizes the connection between the figures, their confidence, and the traditions they represent. The warmth of the colours and the harmony of their posture reveal the rhythm of communal life that defines so much of Nigerian culture.

The terracotta vessels in the gallery complete her narrative. Tope captures the marks of creation on each pot, the subtle textures and the gentle lines shaped by experienced hands. These vessels become more than objects of function. They become storytellers in their own right, holding the memory of fireside crafting and generational wisdom.

Through her photographs, Adebanji offers more than documentation. She offers preservation. She offers reverence. She offers a connection. Her work ensures that the heritage within Oshodi Arts Gallery does not remain confined to Ikorodu, but reaches those who may never walk through its doors, inviting them to feel the humanity and history it holds.