Nigeria is preparing for its return to the Venice Biennale in 2028 with a fundamentally different approach, framing its participation as a structural intervention rather than mere inclusion. Curator Richard Vedelago, in conversation with Suzette Bell-Roberts, outlines a strategy focused on ownership, authorship, and building a self-sustaining cultural ecosystem, moving beyond seeking validation from global art structures.
This shift matters because it represents a critical move by a major African nation to assert cultural sovereignty and redefine its role within the international art world. By prioritizing long-term infrastructure, artist-led inquiry, and internal value creation, Nigeria aims to challenge the power dynamics of global platforms, positioning its culture as economic capital and diplomatic currency on its own terms.