Art and Culture in Abuja
Nike Art Village
This village is situated on the Airport Road in Lugbe – a 10 min. drive from Nordic Villa. It is open from 8am to 7pm daily. Contact: +234(0) 802 313 1067 (website: www.nikeart.com). Nike Art has 4 branches: Ogidi, Lagos, Oshogbo, and Abuja – being the newest. The Abuja village consist of stone statues, carvings and huts with animal shaped roofs. There is an outdoor exhibition space or artists and teachers who live on site, and the display of colourful batiks fusing traditional and contemporary styles. During the week there are workshops in African dancing and drumming, as well as the availability to sign up for individual tailored art classes. Tours are offered to the various Nike Villages, as well as other museums and galleries.
Thought Art Pyramid Art Gallery
This gallery is found on 62 Parakou Crescent, Wuse II, and opened from 8am to 8pm. Contact: +234(0) 803 332 2885. It is a creative landmark of the city and its purpose is to assist artists reach their creative potential, as well as promote Nigerian art on the map at home and abroad. Has a modern exhibition hall which also acts as a training centre for artists and curators in a programme offered throughout the year. In it there is also a well-stocked library with good collection of materials on Nigerian and African art. Visitors are encouraged to feel free to drop in to view and purchase art of startling originality by the Nation’s Finest Artists.
Abuja Art and Craft Village
Located behind the Musa Yar’adua Centre, Central Business District, this village is open from 8 am to late daily. This is one of the wonderful places where visitors can see and buy some of Nigeria’s arts and crafts that represent the country’s culture. The art shops are thatch-roofed huts with walls made from red earth (clay). The art ranges from small sculpted “warrior and horse” statuettes, beaded necklaces and bracelets, African traditional masks, leather bags and clothes. Food and drink stalls are also available.
Bwari Pottery Village
Located next to the Nigerian Law School, Old Suleja Road, Bwari. Opened from 8am to 6pm daily, Contact address: +234(0)803 452 8805. The fantastic design of a palm-thatched roofs and arrowhead-shaped windows and a studio being laid out like a gallery, attracts visitors to this village. The main activity is the, training of new generation of potters to encourage creativity and cultural exchange to the newest enterprises. Has a shop that produces variety of items, from pitchers and vases to casserole dishes, teapots and decorative lanterns.
The Yar’Adua Foundation
Located on One Memorial Drive Central Business District, Opposite Sheraton Hotel and Towers. Contact: +234(0) 9524 0021 or +234(0) 9524 0022. This foundation was built in memory of the late General Shehu Musa Yar’adua, Former President of Nigeria. The Yar’adua Foundation has a lot of facilities which ranges from libraries, a centre with both conference facilities and a shop to buy gift items, organized programmes such as charity projects, Yar’adua Merit Scholars etc, exhibition halls, and above all the Late President’s speeches, photographs and biography. For more information visit: www.yaraduacentre.org.
National Mosque
This building is one of the most beautiful places in Abuja. It is located opposite to the National Christian Centre on the Independence Avenue, in the Central Business District, which is found southward to the ring-road. It was built in 1984 and stands out with its huge gold dome and four tall minarets. The mosque is open to non-muslims during non-prayer times, and in it there is a library and conference room.
National Christian Centre
Located also at the Independence Avenue, Central Business District, the National Christian Centre (also known as the Nigerian Ecumenical Centre) has a great masterpiece of a glinting copper-coloured roof, with pivotal arches, huge organ, and a choir rehearsal room. It also has a marble central altar floor which completes a rotation every ten minutes. This Centre has an 8,000 congregational capacity, with tours at non-prayer times.
Abuja National Stadium
Constructed in 2003, this magnificent place is located on the Airport road. It is a centre for large scale social, cultural and religious events. This building also meets the highest international facility standard. That is; a 60,491 capacity, corporate, presidential suites and boxes, media centre, banks, post offices, indoor sports hall, swimming pool etc.