The Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA), Nigeria's leading consortium of writers, journalists, artists, and literary enthusiasts, celebrated its 35th anniversary on June 2, 2026. Founded on June 2, 1991, CORA has been a prominent advocate for arts and culture in Nigeria and across Africa. To commemorate this milestone, the organization officially launched its podcast station, tentatively named 'Voices from the CORAVille,' on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 4:00 PM.
Podcast Station Details
The podcast station is housed at the CORA Library & Resource Centre in CORAVille, Freedom Park, Lagos Island. It is managed by the Programme Directorate, which includes associates and volunteers from the CORA Youth Creative Club. This new initiative expands CORA's diverse activities and aims to deepen conversations around the creative and cultural industries through insightful interviews, critical commentaries, and engaging dialogues.
The station was made possible by a donation from David Awam Amkpa, a professor of Culture Aesthetics at the Tisch School of Art, New York University, and Vice Provost at New York University Abu Dhabi. The podcast is designed to serve as a platform for thought leadership, knowledge sharing, and advocacy, helping to catalyze transformational change within the creative ecosystem.
Maiden Edition and Founder's Role
Toyin Akinosho, CORA's visionary founder and Secretary-General, will be the special guest on the podcast's maiden edition. The episode will take listeners back to CORA's formative years, recounting the early days when the dream was crystallizing. It will revisit the first Arts Stampede and other initial activities held in Akinosho's residential courtyard in FESTAC Town, Lagos. The launch will help relive memories and honor early contributors to CORA's development.
Akinosho is uniquely suited to share these nostalgic stories, having been instrumental in the growth of the NGO over the past 35 years. He will provide insights into how CORA has become a home for cultural landscapists who have shaped Nigeria's cultural horizon.
Programme Chair's Remarks
Jahman Anikulapo, CORA's Programme Chair, described the dual event as another milestone in the organization's history. He stated, 'This double-barrel event is yet another history-making moment for CORA. It offers the opportunity to reflect deeply on CORA's evolution in the last 35 years of active engagements in literacy campaigns, cultural advocacy, and the shaping of Nigeria's creative ecosystem.'
Anikulapo invited everyone who has followed CORA's journey from its infancy to this remarkable period. Writers, journalists, art enthusiasts, culture advocates, activists, and the general public are welcome to join in commemorating CORA's 35th anniversary and celebrating its enduring contributions to the nation's cultural landscape.
History and Impact of CORA
The Committee for Relevant Art was founded in June 1991 as a not-for-profit advocacy organization to advance artistic and cultural production and expression. It has been managed by dedicated culture enthusiasts with the goal of making Nigeria a prime destination for art and culture tourism. CORA was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in Nigeria as a charity in 2007 under the name CORA Art & Cultural Foundation.
In 2006, CORA received the Prince Claus Award for Culture & Development. The organization has been instrumental in major policy shifts in the creative industries, including the ongoing revamp of the 50-year-old National Theatre of Nigeria, the introduction and review of the Cultural Policy of Nigeria, the sustenance of various culture parastatals of the federal government, and the launch of the Bring Back the Book initiative by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Regular Events
CORA organizes regular art events, including live performance events and plenaries such as the quarterly CORA Art Stampede, the monthly CORA BookTrek, the periodic CORA Artists' Forum, and the annual Lagos Book & Art Festival (LABAF), which has been organized since 1999 and is widely revered as the largest of its kind in the West African sub-region.
