2024 Tilga Art Prize Recipients

Ugo Ahiakwo

Ugo Ahiakwo (b. 1998 in Lagos, Nigeria) lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria. A Sculptor, Curator and Furniture Designer, who in his artistic practice, merges his knowledge of art and design with his environment and objects. With the idea that everything has a voice, Ahiakwo tries to develop his work in an abstract and reduced way to connect the objects but also his own story.

After a tenure at Soto Gallery in Lagos as a resident curator, Ugo presented a groundbreaking solo exhibition at Alliance Française de Lagos from January to March 2023 where he showcased his remarkable and innovative curatorial expertise. His artistry and craftsmanship were exemplified by the ingenuity and calmness of his fabric "Seascape" series of work.

He has since participated in several group shows, including "Factory Reset: Continued" curated by renowned artist Dennis Osadebe for Koenig Galerie x Numero Berlin, Germany; "Reverie" by The Dada Gallery; "Afterimages" by Rele Gallery, Lagos; and most recently participated in +234 Art Fair, Lagos. He recently had another solo exhibition "Sparks Fly" at Borna Soglo Gallery, Cotonou, Benin Republic (April - May 2024).

Ahiakwo studied Fashion Design at School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Academy of Art University, San Francisco California, USA. 

Elfreda Fakoya

Elfreda Fakoya is a multidisciplinary artist exploring figurative textile art rooted in diasporic cultures and their fusions. Her work serves as a conduit for exploring the connections and contrasts within these cultures, weaving narratives around themes of family, labor, self-exploration, and migration.

A graduate of Fashion Design at Ravensbourne University, London; initially working in fashion, Fakoya found greater interest in textile storytelling. Influenced by the vibrant cultural tapestry of London and Lagos, where she grew up, Fakoya draws inspiration from aerial topographic views and her own experiences traversing these diverse landscapes. The intricate lines, shapes, and patterns in her work reflect the multifaceted identities in the diaspora evoking narratives of resilience and interconnectedness.

Her evolving body of work combines a diverse array of textiles, including leather, cotton, repurposed clothing and acrylics.Her creative process often employs print and production techniques used to create couture garments. It creates a "topographic aesthetic" that reflects the geographical and psychological complexities inherent in diasporic journeys. The works look like physical maps achieved through delicate hand-woven lines and patterns inviting viewers to contemplate the intersections of identity and place.

Fakoya's work has been exhibited in several group shows in Lagos, Nigeria;

London, UK; Los Angeles, USA and New York, USA. She is a member of the Somerset House artists in residence and a guest lecturer at Ravensbourne and Northampton University.

Bayo Hassan Bello

Bayo Hassan Bello is an artist, writer, and curator who examines indigenous knowledge systems and practices through artist books, curated projects, experimental films, and site-specific installations. His text-based and time-based works engage with West African indigenous practices and social imaginaries.

Bello, before moving to Côte D'Ivoire, lived in Dubai for over a decade working as a software programmer and curator. As a passionate writer, he sought to create a space for creatives and changemakers to interact in Dubai. In 2016, he launched The AJALA Project inspired by the travels of Nigerian journalist and globetrotter Olabisi Ajala. to provide artists with the opportunity to explore a theme or a topic that wasn't necessarily commercial.

He is also the founder of EN PLEIN AIR. The platform encourages experimental practices and the production of temporal works (sound, video, performance or digital). It aims to initiate cross-cultural collaborations with international artists and creative communities.

His works has been selected and shown with major institutions across the Middle East, Africa and Europe; including Africa Movie Academy Awards, Art X Lagos, Borna Soglo Gallery, Fondation Fiminco, Goethe Institut, Institut Francais, Jameel Arts Center, Prince Claus Fund, Sikka Art Fair, Venice Biennale, World Art Dubai, to name a few.

Bello has participated in multiple residencies including Multidisciplinary Residency - Festival D'Aix, France (2024); Biennale College Arte - Venice Biennale, Italy (2023); Fondation Fiminco - Paris Romainville, France (2023) and Villa Ndar-St Louis - Institut Francais, Senegal (2023).

Oladele Bello

Oladele Bello, known as 'Xioth' or 'Xixthpriest,’ is a daring writer, filmmaker, video artist, theatre practitioner, media enthusiast, and creative entrepreneur. While studying Theatre and Media Arts at Federal University Oye-Ekiti (directing major), he was also creating experimental short films against all odds.

His first experiment, 'THE JOURNEY,' was selected to screen at the Zuma Film Festival, Abuja 2021, and also at the FilmOneFest, New Jersey. 'GHOST' won the JURY RECOGNITION (18-25) at the UNESCO PLURAL+ VIDEO FESTIVAL, 2022, and also received FILM AID's 'Best Migration Film 2022. Additionally, it was the second runner-up at the GLF AFRICA STORY TELLING COMPETITION, 2022.

As a video artist, the project 'ESU, which he directed and cinematographed, was exhibited during the OVER THE REAL (FOCUS AFRICA) event in Italy, 2022, alongside 6 other artists of African descent. It was also exhibited at The Project Space, Pietrasanta, with African artists from the Venice Biennale 2022. The project was programmed for exhibition at the RUSSIAN MUSEUM OF ETHNOLOGY, Saint Petersburg, 2023, and Brazil 2023.

Oladele Bello currently serves as an Artistic Assistant to Qudus ONIKEKU (Qdance Company) and is the Media Lead for TheQSchool.

"I have a keen interest in storytelling, art, and the conversations they can inspire, as well as philosophy, politics, education, human consciousness, and technology.

That's my motivation for creating excellent and thought-provoking works that evoke emotions. I aim to create or interpret ideas into powerful and unique visual stories that are impactful, whether on stage or screen."

Katesi Jacqueline Kalange

Katesi was born in 1995 in Kampala, Uganda. She holds a bachelor’s degree in art and industrial design from Kyambogo University, Uganda  Her work finds its form in a fusion of painting, sculpture and performance installation art using a multitude of sustainable media and techniques including upcycling, recycling, re-using, smudging, use of a palette knife, weaving and welding. 

During her work process, close attention is paid to how her five senses respond to their contact with the given surfaces, media and tools which lead to a transformation into a whole new being during and after. She relates this priceless bond that develops with that between a mother and her baby right from pregnancy to the conception stage which involves labour pains that finally lead to a new life; thereby referring to each of her creations as her babies. 

Over the past several years, Kalange have participated in numerous group exhibitions across Uganda and internationally in Mauritius; Dubai UAE;  and Nairobi, Kenya. 

In 2021, she was awarded the Small Project Grant Fund by Goethe Zentrum, Kampala, and the Prince Claus Mentorship Award building beyond category. 

Her works were published in Passport exhibition catalogue, Art Creates Water exhibition catalogue, Kampala Art Biennale virtual catalogue, East African Visual Artists Connect Exhibition catalogue, and KLA Art 2021 catalogue 

Martin Senkubuge 

Martin (b.1996) is a visionary artist, researcher, and curator whose work is dedicated to amplifying the voices of marginalized individuals living with vitiligo. His transformative charcoal drawings on paper capture the essence of the skin condition, and his work serves as a powerful tool to educate the public and dispel harmful myths and stereotypes.

He holds a First Class Degree from Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Arts at Makerere University, Uganda. His artwork has been featured in numerous publications, including the Guardian, Vanity Fair Magazine Italia, and the BBC World Service.


Martin has also gained recognition in the international art community, representing Uganda in ‘The Art of Africa Exhibition 2022’ at the Ven at Embassy Row in Washington DC and participating in the British Connect Delegation to the 59th Venice Biennale.

He has participated in several group shows in Uganda, and had a solo show in 2021 with Part of Us Exhibition – 1st Edition, Goethe Zentrum/UGCS Premises, Kampala, Uganda 

In addition to his artistic achievements, Martin is an accomplished curator and organizer. He served as the Chairperson of a team of curators for ‘Tracing the Que-rator Exhibition’ at the Nommo Gallery and was the Assistant Curator of the ‘Njabala; this is Not How exhibition’ at the Makerere Art Gallery.

Florence Nanteza

Florence Nanteza, the youngest of her siblings, found solace in drawing at a young age as a means of expressing her emotions and experiences. Growing up in a creative family, she was inspired by her father's love of art and honed her own skills. After completing high school, she fully embraced art as a powerful form of self-expression.

Her unique banana fiber collages quickly gained recognition among local expatriates and art lovers in the Masaka area. In 2020, she joined "Ndege Ya Akili", a creative incubator in Masaka that supports young Ugandan artists, which provided her with the platform, freedom, and confidence to further explore her artistic abilities.

Nanteza is deeply committed to wellness and the role of plants in promoting positive health and wellbeing. Today her artwork is a manifestation of childhood memories and dreams that she has continually fused with her knowledge of herbal medication that naturally heals the body and soul. 

In 2020, Nanteza was awarded an Artist Residency at Weaver Bird Residency in Uganda. She has participated in several group shows across Uganda, Atlanta and Washington DC in USA, Dubai, UAE and Taipei, Taiwan. She had a solo show at UNFAIR 2023 in Milan, Italy.  

Additionally, her works have been included in various publications including The independent newspaper and Art & Lusso UAE.

Arinitwe Peter

Arinitwe holds a Bachelors of Art and Design in Education from Kyambogo University, Uganda. In his practice, he uses art to communicate issues that are detrimental to the progress of African people covering themes that include destruction of the planet, and loss of Afrikan indigenous values and culture. 

He is a painter, and a prolific mural artist with multiple public installations that engages community members across East Africa. As an artist and curator, for 2 years he ran the You Lead Summit, East Africa’s largest forum of young leaders, mentors, government officials and youth organizations. In the role he designed and built stages for speakers and created sculptures, giant murals leading to his first solo exhibition in 2021.

In 2021, CivFund awarded him the Kuonyesha Art Fund grant to create work that would draw public and policymaker engagement to plastic pollution choking Lake Victoria.

Arinitwe was chosen by the World Health Organisation to participate in a group exhibition, to highlight the issues of humanity’s destruction of the environment, and has partnered also with United Nations Environment Programme in Kenya and at UNEA.  His work has been mentioned in multiple national news outlets in Kenya and Uganda. 

More recently, he set up Plastik Talks, an organization that is using visual arts to engage the youth to fight for their environment.

Athenkosi Kwinana 

Johannesburg, South Africa based visual artist with focus on drawing and printmaking. As an individual living with Albinism, Athenkosi's artworks explore the daily life and interactions of People Living With Albinism (PLWA). She is interested in drawing attention to the representation of PLWA, particularly in black South African communities

Hannah Macfarlane

Cape Town, South Africa based multidisciplinary artist with focus on sculpture, printmaking, performance and installation. she explore various textile mediums with a predominant interest in wool and felting. The core of her practice deals with intimacy, vulnerability and cultivating a tender sense of self in uncertain times

Lindani Nyandeni

Durban South Africa based abstract portrait artist whose work features semi-abstract portraits and figures who are rendered in a stylized manner. His subjects are done in a wash-like style, which metaphorically translates to nostalgia

Zama Cebsille Mwandla

Johannesburg, South Africa based visual artist whose work is a visual exploration & experimentation of rich vibrant seductive colors. They contains poetic connotations that depict gruesome, graphic & unusual imagery that portray her imagination of her life & surroundings

Tilga Art Fund partnered with Rele Foundation for the 2021 Awards. Unlike the previous year, we awarded grants to each of Rele Young Contemporaries to create works that were presented at the Young Contemporaries show at Rele Gallery. 

The Fund recipients are Micheal Igwe (2nd year awardee), IyunOla Sanyaolu, Sabrina Coleman-Pinheiro, Victor Olaoye, Rachel Seidu, David Otaru and Aghogho Otega