CORA Turns 35, Launches Podcast to Amplify Africa’s Cultural Voice

Segun Atanda/

As it steps into its 35th year of cultural activism, artistic advocacy, and intellectual engagement, the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) is opening a new chapter in its storied journey with the launch of a podcast station designed to deepen conversations around Nigeria’s creative and cultural industries.

The organisation, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most influential cultural institutions, officially clocked 35 on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, marking three and a half decades of championing literature, the arts, cultural policy, and creative expression across the country and beyond.

Rather than commemorate the milestone with fanfare on its anniversary date, CORA has chosen a more enduring celebration. On Saturday, June 6, it will formally unveil its new podcast platform, tentatively titled “Voices from the CORAVille,” at its headquarters within the CORA Library and Resource Centre, Freedom Park, Lagos Island.

The initiative represents more than the launch of a digital broadcast channel. It is a deliberate expansion of CORA’s long-standing mission to shape public discourse around culture, creativity, and national development. Through interviews, commentaries, conversations, and critical reflections, the podcast aims to become a vibrant marketplace of ideas for artists, writers, scholars, policymakers, and culture enthusiasts.

Powered by a donation from Professor David Awam Amkpa of New York University and NYU Abu Dhabi, the podcast station is envisioned as a hub for thought leadership, knowledge exchange, and advocacy within Africa’s creative ecosystem. It will be operated by members of the CORA Youth Creative Club under the organisation’s Programme Directorate.

Fittingly, the inaugural edition will feature CORA’s founder and Secretary-General, Toyin Akinosho, whose voice and vision have remained central to the organisation’s evolution since its birth in 1991.

Listeners will be taken on a nostalgic journey through CORA’s formative years, from the pioneering Arts Stampede held in June 1991 and the modest gatherings in Akinosho’s FESTAC Town residence, to the emergence of a cultural movement that has profoundly influenced Nigeria’s artistic and literary landscape.

For many within Nigeria’s cultural community, the podcast launch is symbolic. It bridges the past and the future, preserving institutional memory while embracing contemporary modes of storytelling and engagement.

Describing the anniversary and podcast launch as a “double-barrel event,” CORA Programme Chair Jahman Anikulapo said the occasion offers an opportunity to reflect on the organisation’s remarkable journey and enduring impact.

According to him, the milestone highlights 35 years of active involvement in literacy campaigns, cultural advocacy, and the shaping of Nigeria’s creative ecosystem, while inviting the public to celebrate the institution’s contributions to national cultural development.

Founded in June 1991 as a non-profit advocacy organisation, CORA has grown into a formidable force in the arts sector. Registered as the CORA Art & Cultural Foundation in 2007, the organisation has earned local and international recognition, including the prestigious Prince Claus Award for Culture and Development in 2006.

Over the years, CORA has played a significant role in shaping cultural policies and institutions, contributing to initiatives such as the ongoing revitalisation of the National Theatre, reviews of Nigeria’s cultural policy framework, and the celebrated Bring Back the Book campaign launched during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Its flagship programmes, including the Lagos Book & Art Festival (LABAF), the CORA Art Stampede, BookTrek, and Artists’ Forum, have become fixtures on Nigeria’s cultural calendar, attracting some of the continent’s most respected creative minds.

At 35, CORA stands not merely as an organisation but as a living archive of ideas, debates, and artistic movements. And with the launch of “Voices from the CORAVille,” it appears determined to ensure that the conversation it began three decades ago continues to resonate across generations, platforms, and borders.