By Ademola Adekusibe
September 13, 2025
The Lagos State Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Idris Aregbe, is facing a storm of criticism after a viral video showed him hosting Uzoart, the controversial artist behind the exhibition widely condemned for mocking Yoruba Owanbe traditions under the label “Lagos culture.”
The meeting, filmed and shared by media personality Noble Igwe, has ignited outrage, with many accusing Aregbe of lending government legitimacy to a project Yoruba leaders say demeans and distorts Lagos heritage.
“This is not just art, it is cultural sabotage,” one furious commentator noted. “And now the SA, whose duty is to protect Yoruba culture, is the one giving her a platform.”
Compounding the uproar, critics have resurfaced Noble Igwe’s own past remarks about government aides. In an earlier viral post, Igwe dismissed Special Adviser appointments as mere political rewards, saying: “Most don’t even have a desk or an office. In Nigeria, SA appointment is a form of thank you. Go and look for work, biko.”
Now, with Igwe himself parading Uzoart before Aregbe, many say the video proves his point, and raises a bigger question about whether Lagos cultural institutions are being trivialized and hijacked for personal connections rather than genuine preservation.
Public anger is mounting, with cultural groups warning that Aregbe’s actions amount to tacit government approval of works that insult Yoruba values. Analysts caution that silence from the state government could be read as complicity, urging an urgent clarification of its stance.
