The Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE) returns for its 16th edition this July, continuing its legacy as a vital platform for cultural dialogue, artistic innovation, and intellectual engagement, inspired by the enduring influence of Wole Soyinka, a professor and Nobel Laureate.
This year’s theme, “Decolonisation of Nigerian Youth: Agenda for Our Future Leadership,” will unfold across two continents; Nigeria (Africa) and the United Kingdom (Europe), with landmark events scheduled for July 13 in Abeokuta, and July 24–25, 2025 in London.
The 2025 programme explores postcolonial identity and interrogates how young Africans can reclaim agency and reimagine leadership in ways that honour their cultural heritage while engaging the demands of a globalized world.
Meanwhile, some of the cross-continental programmes to be held in Abeokuta, Nigeria, on July 13, 2025 include: Do Your Own Thing (DYOT), a youth talent showcase featuring a vibrant display of music, dance, spoken word, indigenous drama, and visual storytelling by young Nigerian performers.
The Nigerian event also includes; Female Talking Drummers Showcase, which elebrates young girls expressing leadership and cultural identity through traditional drumming; Cultural Exhibitions & Mentorship, an interactive learning spaces and a community gathering to honour Professor Soyinka’s 91st birthday and finally, Africa Youth Literature, Communication and Arts Workshop, which is a co-led session by Ayo Aladekomo and Abolore Sobayo, designed to foster creative collaboration and cultural exploration among African youth.
In the events in the United Kingdom will run from Juky 24-25, 2025 at The Africa Centre, London.
The highlights include an advocacy session tagged, “The Artist as Postcolonial Agent: Canvas of Leadership Nuances”.
The session will offer a high-level dialogue exploring the artist’s role in shaping leadership narratives and sociopolitical consciousness across African societies.
The session’s keynote speakers include:Wilson Mano, a professor and Vanessa Iwowo, while the anchors include; Olu Alake, CEO, The Africa Centre and Samantha Iwowo of Bournemouth University.
The London event will also feature a cultural night to celebrate African creativity through live music, performance, and visual arts. The cultural performances will feature the likes of Kayefi, an Afro-folk singer; Aduke, a Neo-soul and African fusion artist; Segun Akinduro, a visual artist and performer; Abolore Sobayo, a multidisciplinary artist and cultural advocate and Eyinju Eledumare, a performance poet and storyteller.
The WSICE 2025 is produced by ZMirage Multimedia Company, under the leadership of Olateju Kareem, the executive producer, alongside co-executive producers; Segun Ojewuyi, a professor and Kareem, in partnership with national and international cultural institutions.
The Nigeria-based production team includes: Jahman Anikulapo, a cultural consultant & head of communications; Tunde Awosanmi, creative director; Razinat Muhammed, a professor and head of Adjudication; Linda Olowokere, youth producer, Ayo Aladekomo and Joy Nweye, as associate producers respectively, while Lilian Amah-Aluko is the production lead.
Speaking of the upcoming event, Olateju Kareem, executive producer and MD/CEO of ZMirage Multimedia Company Ltd, reaffirmed the programme’s mission, saying: “As culture continues to be our pride, let a better understanding of each other’s cultures yield respect and tolerance—leading to unity and the advancement of our shared humanity.”
He also offered special thanks to Professor Wole Soyinka: “We deeply thank Professor Soyinka for lending not just his name to this initiative, but for personally receiving youth participants each year at his home, and for attending both the Nigerian and the UK editions of the programme. His presence—from Abeokuta to The Africa Centre in London—reinforces his enduring role as mentor to generations of young thinkers, writers, and artists.”
