The ISEDA exhibition, first introduced in 2025 as part of a birthday programme by Nigerian artist and creative director Ibrahim Adeola Ganiyu, popularly known as Sir Gai, is set to return for a second edition with a broader historical focus on the development of comic art and illustration in Nigeria.
Titled ISEDA “Te ki no loji”: EMPERORS AND EMPIRES, the 2026 edition will open to the public on May 3 at Vortex Central, the home of Krates and Akuko Comic Shop in Lagos. The exhibition marks a shift in scope from its inaugural outing, which was largely centred on Ganiyu’s personal artistic journey, to a more expansive documentation of early practitioners and collectives that contributed to shaping Nigeria’s visual storytelling landscape.
The maiden edition of ISEDA, held in 2025, coincided with Ganiyu’s 49th birthday and functioned as both a retrospective and a mentorship-driven showcase. It presented selected works from his career while also highlighting his role in training and influencing younger artists within the Nigerian creative ecosystem. In contrast, the 2026 exhibition extends beyond an individual narrative to examine a broader lineage of artists whose collaborative efforts date back over three decades.
Central to this narrative is the IBTASHOL GROUP, a creative collective established in 1992. The group brought together several illustrators and visual artists who worked across comics and related disciplines, developing shared practices grounded in experimentation, discipline, and peer-driven growth. The 2026 exhibition will feature a diverse lineup of these early practitioners and their contemporaries, including social advocate and Aliensmedia CEO Segun Awosanya, seasoned advertising executive Maurice Ugwonoh, and safety expert and illustrator Greg Ejiofor.
They are joined by Aliu Azeez (also known as Liuwey), currently the Creative Design Director at Cybele Cosmetics, and Friday Eluwa, a creative at Loveworld International. The collective output of these artists, many of whom were instrumental in the formation of ICSTUDIOS Limited, has intersected with industries such as advertising, publishing, and animation, contributing significantly to the broader development of visual culture in Nigeria.
According to the organisers, EMPERORS AND EMPIRES will highlight both individual contributions and collective influence. The “Emperors” referenced in the title denote the artists themselves, while the “Empires” refer to the systems, institutions, and creative networks that have emerged from their work over time.
The exhibition will feature a selection of early works produced during the formative years of the artists, alongside more recent pieces that reflect their current practices. These works are expected to illustrate shifts in style, technique, and thematic focus, offering insight into how Nigerian comic art and illustration have evolved since the early 1990s.
The theme for this year’s edition, “Te ki no loji,” is described by the organisers as a stylised Yoruba expression that conveys the idea of “pressing to ignite a spark.” The decision to expand ISEDA into a recurring exhibition signals an attempt to establish a more structured platform for documenting and presenting aspects of Nigeria’s art history, particularly within the comic and illustration space.
The exhibition also arrives at a time when Nigeria’s comic and animation sectors are experiencing increased visibility, both locally and internationally. Organisers state that the exhibition is intended for a broad audience, including artists, collectors, students, and enthusiasts of comic books and illustration. It is expected to serve both as an educational resource and as a platform for engagement with historical material that may not have been widely accessible.
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