Urhobo Igbe-Emete celebrates Onobrakpeya’s 94th birthday at 28th Harmattan Art Workshop
By Editor
AT 12.00 noon today, Thursday, 27 August 2026 at Onobraks Arts Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State, oral literature and culture expert Prof. Godini G. Darah of Urhobo Arts Heritage Ltd will lead Urhobo Igbe-Emete dance group to celebrate renowned UNESCO’s Living Legend, Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya at the ongoing Harmattan Workshop Series. The dance celebration is fused into the globally acclaimed art workshop instituted by Onobrakpeya since 1988.
In what Darah described as “a hard-drive impromptu summons after the Ogba-Urhie Carnival yesterday,” calling the event ‘double offer.’
“Bruce Onobrakpeya is the globally acclaimed Urhobo visual artist, inventor, UNESCO’s Living Legend, Pope John II medalist, laureate of NNOM, etc, etc,” according to Darah. “In 1998 he started the Harmattan Workshop Series at Agbarha-Otor. It is held twice a year, February and August. This version opened on August 16th. Participants come from Nigeria, ECOWAS and Central African countries. The theme for the Workshop is “Crafts in Nigeria’s Industry.”
He stated that this year’s August workshop is also in honour of the veteran administrator of the Smithsonian Institute, US, Professor Janet Stanley, “who used her position to promote the works of Onobrakpeya and Urhobo heritage. She joined her ancestors last year.”
Darah further noted that “Onobrakpeya will be 94 years on 30 August. For his inestimable contributions to Urhobo and African civilizations, his Odovan (sobriquet) is Eni (Elephant). Therefore, the Urhobo Arts Heritage Ltd will sponsor the Ughievwen all-female Igbe-Emete Elephant Dance in salute to Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya and Professor Janet Stanley.”
