MASK CODE: Fossilized Messages of Then, Now & Here On

​Nearly thirty years after the publication of Theatre in the Niger Valley in Glendora (1996), Rezlogue convenes a conversation with Nigerian writer and scholar Sola Olorunyomi to revisit his reflections on mask and theatre traditions encountered along the Niger River. Drawing from experiences across Guinea, Mali, Niger, Benin, and Nigeria, the discussion examines how mask cultures have adapted in response to social change and new media. It also explores the shifting role of masks from indigenous cultural contexts to their translation into modern African art, considering their continued transformation, reinterpretation, and disruption within contemporary art and popular culture.

​About Rezlogue

​Rezlogue is an arts residency network and arts resource platform dedicated to supporting Nigerian artists, researchers, art institutions, and patrons in navigating, strengthening, and expanding the country's creative ecosystem. Through knowledge exchange programmes, ecosystem research, and sector integration initiatives, Rezlogue maps and creates opportunities that foster sustainable connections, artistic growth, and community impact across Nigeria.