Qudus Onikeku

Qudus Onikeku
Born
Qudus Onikeku

1984 (age 41–42)
Lagos, Nigeria
Alma mater Ecole Supérieure des Arts du Cirque, Brussels
OccupationsDance artist, dance critic and Choreographer
Years active2004–present
OrganizationQdance Company
Known forDance Gathering Lagos.
Notable workSpirit Child, MY Exile is in My Head, STILL/life, Yuropa, Re:INCARNATION.
StyleHip Hop, Capoeira, Tai Chi and Contemporary
Websitewww.qudusonikeku.com

Qudus Onikeku is a Nigerian dancer and performer who has been described as "an atypical artist".[1] Qudus Onikeku is a renowned dance critic whose perceptive critiques have influenced the field of modern dance criticism.[2] He was one of the three artists invited to Nigeria's first appearance at the 2017 Venice Biennale.[3][4]

Biography and work

Onikeku lived in France for a while before returning to Lagos to found Q-Dance Company and Dance Gathering Lagos.[5][6] He has performed a number of local and international shows, including We Almost Forgot which has been showcased in Berlin and Lagos.[7]

His work takes its influence from the Yoruba traditional culture[8] "combining it with several other influences such as the guiding philosophies of hip hop, capoeira, and contemporary dance, to weave a certain understanding of the human condition."[9] Onikeku's my exile is in my head was named as the laureate of the solo category at the Danse L’Afrique Danse 2010 in Bamako.[10]

Qudus Onikeku organizes the yearly Afropolis Festival, which he describes as an “African diaspora-focused festival.”[11][12] In 2026, he was conferred with the title “Eyan Akinkanju/Hero of Egbaland” by Egbagalinza, alongside thirty-nine others shaping Yoruba people culture.[13]

Notable works

  • Re:INCARNATION premiered in 2021.[14]
  • SPIRIT CHILD premiered in Cologne in June 2019.[15]
  • IYAMI premiered on 17 December 2018.[16]
  • YUROPA premiered in Bremen in June 2018.[17]
  • RAINMAKERS created for the 2018 TEDGlobal in Tanzania, and since performed severally in Nigeria.[18]
  • A BRIEF MOMENT OF TRUTH created for the 2017 TEDLagos.[19]
  • WE ALMOST FORGOT 2016 creation, premièred in Berlin, Lagos and Abuja, and Paris.[20]
  • QADDISH premiered on 6 July 2013 with several tours around Europe.[21]

References

  1. ↑ "Qudus, un artiste atypique sur la scène du festival de danse contemporaine de Toulouse". Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  2. ↑ Nation, The (2 July 2016). "'WE ALMOST FORGOT': QUDUS ONIKEKU dances on the edge". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  3. ↑ "Meet Peju Alatise, Qudus Onikeku & Victor Ehikhamenor - Artists at Nigeria's Debut at the 57th Venice Biennale - BellaNaija". www.bellanaija.com. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  4. ↑ Orubo, Daniel (24 March 2017). "Meet The Nigerian Artists Set To Make History At The Venice Biennale". Konbini Nigeria. Archived from the original on 1 July 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "British Council showcases disabled, non-disabled dancers at Dis Fix project (PHOTOS)". YNaija. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "Iwalewa… A narrative of poverty-to-awareness dance performance". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  7. ↑ Adiele, Chinedu. "Qudus Onikeku "We Almost Forgot"\ Stage Play". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 9 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  8. ↑ "Qudus Onikeku, acrobate sans frontières – JeuneAfrique.com". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). 14 October 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  9. ↑ "Meet Peju Alatise, Qudus Onikeku & Victor Ehikhamenor - Artists at Nigeria's Debut at the 57th Venice Biennale - BellaNaija". www.bellanaija.com. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  10. ↑ "Qudus Onikeku". Modul DAnce. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  11. ↑ Vanguard (24 October 2024). "Lagos set to host 11 countries for Afropolis Festival". vanguardngr.com. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  12. ↑ "afropolis2026". afropolis. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  13. ↑ Chikelu, Chinelo. "Artiste Qudus Onikeku Bestowed 'Hero of Egbaland' at Egbagalinza". Leadership. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  14. ↑ "QDance Company: Re:Incarnation; The Mad Hatter's Tea Party review – curiouser and curiouser". Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  15. ↑ Gulwa, Thandolwethu (1 July 2019). "Spirit Child: Journey of the spirits". Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  16. ↑ "Dance Artist in the spotlight | Thebournemouth Review". 29 October 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  17. ↑ "Qudus Onikeku". Biennale de Lyon. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  18. ↑ QTribe, Qudus Onikeku and The (27 April 2018). "RainMakers". Retrieved 9 April 2026 – via www.ted.com.
  19. ↑ Onikeku, Qudus. "Qudus Onikeku • Numeridanse". numeridanse.com. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  20. ↑ Onikeku, Qudus. "WE ALMOST FORGOT / 2016". qudusonikeku.com. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  21. ↑ "Qudus Onikeku | modul-dance". Modul Dance. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
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