Hannah Remi Okoja is a curator and cultural strategist whose work spans the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Singapore, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates. She focuses on how African and diasporic art is presented, understood, and positioned within the global art ecosystem. Educated at the University of Cambridge in Classics and trained in art administration at Columbia University, her practice includes platforms such as 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair (London), Art SG (Singapore), Art X Lagos (Nigeria), and Abu Dhabi Art (UAE). In this interview, she shares insights into her work and impact.
Driving Commitment to African Art Globally
Okoja began at a grassroots level, working closely with artists and cultural contexts. She emphasizes that culture comes before platform. International spaces did not shape her perspective but gave it scale. Her drive is to ensure that as African and diasporic art moves onto global stages, it remains grounded in the realities, histories, and sensibilities from which it originates.
Influence of Major Art Fairs
Having been deeply involved with fairs like Frieze London and Art X Lagos, Okoja notes that demand for African art is strong both locally and internationally. Art X Lagos demonstrates a growing market on the continent, while Frieze London reflects sustained global appetite. She observes a shift beyond emerging artists toward globally recognized established figures, signaling a maturing market that is beginning to produce its own canon of leading artists.
Intellectual Background and Curatorial Philosophy
Okoja's training in Classics at Cambridge instilled discipline and precision, particularly in language, which shapes her writing and thinking as a curator. It also grounded her in art history from antiquity to the present. Her time at Columbia University brought practical dimensions, including engagement with museums and learning about marketing and proposal writing. Together, these experiences shaped both the intellectual and strategic sides of her work.
Structural Shifts Needed for African Art
Okoja emphasizes the need for a shift from participation to authority. It is not enough to be included in existing structures; there must be influence over how those structures are defined. This requires more African and diasporic voices in leadership positions, long-term institutional commitment, and less reliance on external frameworks for validation. The goal is to shape the system, not just fit into it.
Balancing Creative Vision and Commercial Realities
As a curator and cultural strategist, Okoja does not separate creative vision from strategy. Strong vision and clear strategy make commercial success possible. When focus shifts too heavily toward sales without that foundation, it becomes unsustainable. Her approach is to build intellectual and structural integrity first, allowing the commercial side to follow in a stable and meaningful way.
Importance of Identity, Memory, and Material Culture
Okoja's work engages themes of identity, memory, and material culture. In today's cultural and political climate, where identity and history are actively questioned and redefined, memory becomes a way of preserving what might be overlooked or erased. Material culture carries these histories in tangible form. These themes are central to how people understand themselves and how cultures are represented globally.
Intersection of Art, Policy, and Global Influence
Having contributed to platforms like the World Economic Forum, Okoja sees growing recognition of culture as a key part of the global economy. In Nigeria, figures like Honourable Hannatu Musawa are pushing initiatives that bring the creative sector into dialogue with government and policy. As this continues, art and cultural production will play a more active role in shaping national and international agendas.
Common Gaps in Presenting African Art
Okoja advises galleries, collectors, and institutions on long-term positioning. She identifies over-reliance on Western frameworks as a major gap. When African art is filtered too heavily through external references, it can dilute cultural specificity. There needs to be more confidence in presenting the work on its own terms, with its own intellectual and cultural grounding, rather than constantly translating it for outside validation.
Adapting Curatorial Approach Across Contexts
Operating from London to Lagos to Singapore, Okoja adapts her curatorial approach while maintaining a consistent narrative vision. The context may change, but the core intention remains: bringing Nigerian and diasporic art into global visibility while staying true to the values embedded within the work. Adaptation involves understanding the audience and environment without compromising narrative integrity.
Role of African Women in the Art Ecosystem
Women, particularly African women, are already playing a central role in shaping the global art ecosystem, often while navigating significant challenges. They are shaping practice, building networks, and driving cultural production forward. Strengthening their influence requires support systems, investment, and recognition of their authority. They are not emerging voices but foundational to the future of the ecosystem.
