In a unique blend of storytelling, personal reflection and archival exploration, the inaugural Àwùjọ workshop has been held in Abuja, drawing together writers, artists, historians, and everyday Nigerians to reimagine how personal memory and history intersect.
Anchored by writer and researcher, Dede Israel, in partnership with Heartist Academy and the Hearts Heartist Creative Centre, the workshop focused on the theme: “Archiving the Self.”
The participants were invited to delve into their own life stories, family histories, and collective memories to create introspective narratives that contribute to Nigeria’s evolving archive.
Hosted at the creative center in Abuja — a nurturing space founded by Oluwabukunmi Olukitibi — the workshop aligns with Hearts Heartist’s mission to promote art education, access, and reflective storytelling in Nigeria’s capital.
In her opening remarks, Olukitibi emphasised the importance of community-driven programming that fosters expression and deep thinking.
Reflecting on Memory Through Archives
Dede Israel, who has a strong background in digital archiving and cultural research, set the tone of the workshop with a clear message: “Everyone who is not a writer should leave being a bit of a writer.” He explained that Àwùjọ, launched in March 2025, aims to challenge static models of Nigerian history by inviting citizens to share their lived experiences and memories as a form of dynamic storytelling.
The session featured various tools and mediums, including digitized newspapers from Archivi.ng, nostalgic music clips from nostalgicsounds_ng, and vintage media content from the 1990s and early 2000s. Archival materials such as old broadcasts, commercials, and photographs triggered emotional responses and sparked rich conversations among the participants.
One participant recalled the social impact of the Structural Adjustment Programme of the 1980s, while another spoke about discovering her grandfather’s vinyl collection during the COVID-19 lockdown — a memory that inspired her current work in music archiving. Stories of growing up in early 2000s Abuja, the excitement surrounding the All-Africa COJA Games, and memories of beloved Nigerian TV shows added texture to the workshop’s theme.
Participants were encouraged to introduce themselves not through standard bios, but through reflective storytelling — identifying pivotal life moments, key values, and the people and places that have shaped them.
They were also invited to bring a personal archival item.
Dede shared artefacts from his own collection, including old journals, family photographs, and flyers from cultural institutions such as the Institut français, Goethe-Institut, G.A.S. Foundation, and African School of Economics. One participant brought a coral necklace, a gift from a college professor who had shaped her values and worldview.
Social anthropologist Afiniki Silas-Bossan introduced a reflective writing session, emphasising how archives can serve as starting points for personal and societal exploration. She challenged participants to ask, “Whose version of history are we telling?” and to consider the multiple perspectives that often go unheard in dominant narratives.
As the day drew to a close, the group gathered for the Hearts Heartist Film Screening of Past Lives — a tender, introspective film that echoed the workshop’s central themes of memory, identity, and transformation. The screening, also moderated by Dede, provided a thoughtful close to a powerful evening of reflection and dialogue.
Many participants left the workshop eager to begin personal writing projects, using the materials and experiences of the day as fuel for deeper storytelling.
“I’m happy to have this opportunity and space to actually look at myself,” said one participant. “It’s not something I give myself often.”
With over 20 signups and 15 active participants, the first edition of the Àwùjọ Workshop succeeded in creating an intimate, engaging platform for archiving Nigeria’s past — not through formal institutions alone, but through the lives and memories of its people.
