POSTAFROBEAT is a genre, visual, sonic and cultural theory founded by; and evolving through the collaborative practice of Emalohi Iruobe and Adey Omotade.
“Post” here denotes an ontological return, NOT a chronological “after.”
In this framework past, present and future coexist in a continuous loop where ancestral knowledge, ritual and performance remain in dialogue with contemporary life.
Through their studio, ROOT FORMULA, Emalohi and Adey explore how communal relationships shape identity, belonging and artistic innovation.
By creating with indigenous artists from countries across the world; Emalohi and Adey expand POSTAFROBEAT; embracing experimentation, improvisation and cultural continuity as their artistic method.
This practice has resulted in the creation of new music, art, photography, paintings, films, lectures, dance, workshops, objects, experiences, recipes, concerts, performances and possibilities in POSTAFROBEAT.
The purpose of Postafrobeat is to VALORIZE African traditions, HIGHLIGHT cultural similarities amongst all Africans and propagate UNITY among Africans in Africa and its diaspora.
Works in the exhibition are composed of collages by Nigerian and South African artists- Emalohi Iruobe, Nonku Phiri and Adey Omotade that center ancestral wisdom, creative dynamism, curiosity and love to contextualize the experience of being a ‘PIONEER.’
Through a multi-layered process of excavating, cutting and merging- these works span photography, film, painting, textile, sound and performance to recover and reimagine personal, familial and communal histories and create a new world as an interrogation of and an alternative to the status quo.
Included in the exhibition are collectibles in the form of vinyl and cassette tapes of original sound compositions in Postafrobeat; wearable sculptures in the form of sunglasses; and the BÀTÁ BALLET, a live performance paralleling ballet’s disciplined verticality with the grounded rhythmic intelligence of Yoruba Bàtá dance and drums.
Postafrobeat has presented internationally at ArtHouse Foundation, Lagos (Nigeria), Yinka Shonibare GAS Foundation (Nigeria), King’s College London (UK), Temple University (USA), Santa Fe Art Institute (USA), 2024 Lagos Biennial (Nigeria), Institut Français (Nigeria), Schloss Balmoral, Bad Ems (Germany), Cité des Arts, Paris (France), Goethe Institute, Lagos (Nigeria), Centre Pompidou, Paris (France), La Napoule Art Foundation, Mandelieu (France), Consulate General of France (Nigeria), Wits University, Johannesburg (South Africa), Investec Cape Town Art Fair and Alliance Française, Lagos (Nigeria). They have been awarded fellowships, residencies and grants from Institut Francais, ACP-EU Culture, British Council, Echoing Green, La Napoule Art Foundation, Schloss Balmoral, Santa Fe Art Institute, and several others