Association of Nigerian Authors salutes Jahman Anikulapo @63
By Editor
THE Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has paid glowing tribute to renowned journalist, arts and culture advocate and editor, Mr. Jahman Anikulapo, as he marks his 63rd birthday, celebrating a life devoted to the advancement of Nigeria’s cultural and literary heritage. The tribute was contained in a press statement jointly signed by the President of ANA, Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi and the General Secretary, Dr. Dame Joan Oji.
According to the association, Mr. Anikulapo’s enduring contributions to arts, culture, and creative expression have positioned him as a guiding light whose influence continues to resonate across generations of writers and cultural practitioners.
A former Arts Editor and Editor of The Guardian on Sunday, including Guardian Life magazine, Jahman Anikulapo has been actively engaged in arts and culture journalism since 1987.
Over the decades, he has reported major cultural events and coordinated creative programmes across continents, earning widespread respect as one of Africa’s most authoritative and consistent cultural voices. In 2025 he won UNESCO Defender of Cultural Rights Awards and he received his medal in Bahia, Brazil.
Beyond the newsroom, Anikulapo distinguished himself as a former stage actor, manager, and director, working on notable national and international productions. Through these varied roles, he has contributed to shaping cultural discourse and policy, serving on influential bodies such as the Commonwealth Foundation and the Tony Blair Commission for Africa’s sub-committee on Culture.
Currently, he serves as Programme Chairman of the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), where he has co-directed the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) since 1999. He is also the Executive Director of the iREP Film Festival, a board member of the Arts and Business Foundation (ABF), and a respected consultant on books and magazine publications.
ANA wishes him continued good health, renewed strength, and many more years of meaningful service to arts, culture, and national development.
