Faida Samuel
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Faida Samuel is an Art Historian, Art Critic, and Curator dedicated to advancing contemporary art and its discourse, with a Ph.D in Art History. He currently serves as a Lecturer at the Department of Fine Art, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is the recipient of the Emerging Scholar Award of the year 2025 in the Department of Fine Art, Faculty of Environmental Design, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is a 2024 Faculty Fellow of the Nigerian Higher Education Foundation (NHEF). Faida has curated and co-curated several art exhibitions to his credit. His scholarly work includes peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, examining contemporary artistic practices. As Co-founder and Creative Director of NowExpressions, he constantly avails himself with platforms that bridges critical inquiry, with impactful curatorial projects. Through The Kontemporary Art and Diskuss, he seeks to create a structured and intellectually grounded platform for sustained conversations on contemporary arts practice.
Who We Are
Writing about art with
honesty and care
Established in 2026, Kontemporary Art and Diskuss is an arts platform that aims to cultivate a rigorous, inclusive, and globally engaged space for contemporary art and discourse. The platform bridges art, its scholarship, art criticism, curatorial practice, and other art-related issues. It creates a meeting point for artists, writers, scholars, curators, and audiences interested in thoughtful engagement with contemporary art in Nigeria and across the world.
Kontemporary Art and Diskuss is dedicated to publishing critical essays, exhibition reviews, curatorial reflections, interviews, and informed conversations that shape contemporary artistic practice. The platform promotes serious and reflective writing that examines current artistic trends, cultural movements, and social issues as expressed through art. It seeks to advance critical writing by providing space for both emerging and established artists and critics.
The platform encourages intellectual exchange between artists and audiences, fostering dialogue that deepens understanding and appreciation of contemporary art. It also documents and archives contemporary artistic practices, ensuring important developments are preserved for future reference. Through these efforts, Kontemporary promotes art criticism, strengthens artistic dialogue, and contributes to the growth of contemporary art scholarship, locally and globally.
- Editorially independent
- Critically honest
- Globally minded
What We Publish
- Exhibition Reviews800–1,500 words
- Artist Reviews1,000–2,000 words
- Curatorial Reflections1,500–3,000 words
- Interviews1,500–2,500 words
- Book Reviews800–1,200 words
- Art Historical Perspectives1,500–3,000 words
- Essays2,000–4,000 words
Submission Requirements
- Original, unpublished work
- Clear and analytical depth work
- Proper citation (Chicago or APA)
- High-resolution images
- Images should include legends
Team of Reviewers
Reviewer
Jacob Jat Jari
Professor Jacob Jat Jari trained as an artist at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He joined the academic staff of the same University in 1989 and rose to become a Professor in 2008. The images of his works have been published in several books on African art, a few as cover to such books. His inventions and innovations in the visual art discipline include the exploration of alternative painting media and techniques.
Jari has been a curator to several exhibitions prominent among which was the Accident and Design: Gani Odutokun and His Influence held at the Brunei Gallery, University of London in 2000. He was the recipient of the Leventis Grant in 2003, which he spent at the University of London. He became the Head of the Department of Fine Art, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 2005 to 2007 and Dean, Faculty of Environmental Design of the same university from 2013 to 2015. He was also the University’s Chairman, Organised Lectures Committee in 2024. Jari has been appointed external examiner to many universities including Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda from 2006 to 2008 and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana from 2010 to 2023. He has also been a National Universities Commission resource person on postgraduate and undergraduate programmes.
Reviewer
Duniya Giles Gambo
Duniya Giles Gambo is a professor of Art History and Art Criticism, he bring over two decades of experience in lecturing, researching and mentoring at Fine Art Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. he has graduated 19 Ph.D and 22 M.A. students and still counting. His early research interest wasl the intersection of visual and theatre arts, exploring their multidisciplinary potential for community interventions, education and development. As a contemporary Nigerian curator and critic, he has moved into curating numerous exhibitions locally and internationally, showcasing diverse artistic expressions.
Duniya Giles Gambo is a professor of Art History and Art Criticism, he bring over two decades of experience in lecturing, researching and mentoring at Fine Art Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. he has graduated 19 Ph.D and 22 M.A. students and still counting. His early research interest wasl the intersection of visual and theatre arts, exploring their multidisciplinary potential for community interventions, education and development. As a contemporary Nigerian curator and critic, he has moved into curating numerous exhibitions locally and internationally, showcasing diverse artistic expressions. His writings have been extensively published in reputable journals, book chapters, and catalogues, contributing to the discourse on art and culture.
Currently, Duniya's research focuses on rethinking postmodernity in shaping the arts and artistic practices within a relatively modern postcolonial Africa. This inquiry informs his curatorial approach, which prioritises facilitating and managing the reactionary, as well as proactive emerging Nigerian artists. He is the creator of Dandalin Muhawara, an art and art related discourse platform. He serve as an adviser to Nowexpressions, a curatorial platform, and KAFART, an art and cultural organization, leveraging on his expertise to support artistic growth and innovation.
Reviewer
Adewumi Kehinde Christopher
Adewumi Kehinde Christopher is a curator and Art-in-Health advocate with a PhD in Art History from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. He is the Curator-in-Chief and co-founder of NowExpressions, a curatorial collective dedicated to fostering artistic discourse and engagement. A 2021 Fellow of the Global Arts in Medicine Projects, Dr. Adewumi has curated numerous exhibitions and community-driven projects across Nigeria and South Africa.
Adewumi Kehinde Christopher is a curator and Art-in-Health advocate with a PhD in Art History from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. He is the Curator-in-Chief and co-founder of NowExpressions, a curatorial collective dedicated to fostering artistic discourse and engagement. A 2021 Fellow of the Global Arts in Medicine Projects, Dr. Adewumi has curated numerous exhibitions and community-driven projects across Nigeria and South Africa. His current research interest explores the intersection of art, health, and society, reflecting his commitment to interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary collaborations. He believes that art extends beyond aesthetics – it is also therapeutic. For him, the true impact of art is not merely seen on walls but felt in the lives it transforms. Until August 2025, Dr. Adewumi served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Fine Art and Jewellery Design at Durban University of Technology, South Africa.
His tenure in South Africa deepened his Pan-African consciousness and sharpened his commitment to structural reform across the continent. He is the recipient of the Emerging Scholar Award from the Common Ground Research Network, USA, in recognition of his contributions to research and the arts. He is also an active member of several professional associations, including the Common Ground Research Network, USA; African Studies Centre, Leiden (ASCL); South African Visual Arts Historians (SAVAH); and Arts Council of the African Studies Association (ACASA). Dedicated to community engagement and the role of art in social health and well-being, Dr. Adewumi continues to advocate for the transformative power of the arts in shaping a more inclusive and equitable society.
Reviewer
Temidayo Odutokun
Temidayo is a contemporary Nigerian curator, art historian, and painter. Her interest in art, particularly in documentation and conservation, was inspired by the works of her late father, Gani Odutokun, a renowned Nigerian artist. Engaging with his artistic legacy not only deepened her appreciation for art but also shaped her commitment to preserving artistic heritage.
Temidayo is a contemporary Nigerian curator, art historian, and painter. Her interest in art, particularly in documentation and conservation, was inspired by the works of her late father, Gani Odutokun, a renowned Nigerian artist. Engaging with his artistic legacy not only deepened her appreciation for art but also shaped her commitment to preserving artistic heritage. She holds a B.A in Painting and an M.A. in Art History, all from the Department of Fine Art, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. She worked as curator for about 12 years with the National Gallery of Art in Nigeria and later resigned. She has curated exhibitions both locally and internally.
She made a commission painting for the journal cover of a Dubai-based company - Al Tamimi and Co. In 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, she worked as consultant Art Curator for the Africa Hall renovation project, with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa where she worked with multinational professionals in the area of research, documentation, history and heritage promotion, restitution activism, architecture, art curation, restoration and conservation and high-level presentation. In 2025 she was selected to be a member of the 4th cohort of researchers for Open Restitution Africa. Her case study was on The Restitution Efforts of Oba Akenzua II and the Significance of the Benin Royal Stools. In curating, she appreciates an evident mastery of techniques gained through dedicated art practice.
Reviewer
Rowland Yohanna Goyit
Rowland Yohanna Goyit is a Nigerian curator, art educator, cultural manager, and multidisciplinary visual communicator based in Abuja, Nigeria. With over fifteen years of professional experience spanning contemporary art practice, graphic design, education, and institutional cultural management, his work sits at the intersection of research-driven curation, visual storytelling, and public engagement.
Rowland Yohanna Goyit is a Nigerian curator, art educator, cultural manager, and multidisciplinary visual communicator based in Abuja, Nigeria. With over fifteen years of professional experience spanning contemporary art practice, graphic design, education, and institutional cultural management, his work sits at the intersection of research-driven curation, visual storytelling, and public engagement. He currently serves as General Secretary of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), National Executive Council, he is Special Projects Curator and Gallery Manager at Orisun Art Gallery and Centre for Art & Antiquities, Abuja, where he curates exhibitions, oversees institutional collaborations, and develops programmes engaging themes of identity, cultural memory, socio-political consciousness, material culture, and emerging media practices. Goyit holds a Bachelor's degree in Fine Art (Art History), and he is currently undertaking his M.A Art History, all from, the Department of Fine Art, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. His research interest is in contemporary Nigerian and African art, curatorial practice, moving image, digital and AI-assisted visual culture, archives, and neurodiversity in art.
Beyond curatorial work, he is an experienced graphic designer and visual communications specialist, having led the design of exhibition catalogues, books, institutional reports, branding systems, and cultural advocacy materials for galleries, schools, and national arts organisations. Goyit has curated and contributed to notable projects including What Happens When We Don't Get Involved, Impossibility Is a Myth: Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke's Guinness World Record. Unveiling, the Spain–Nigeria Visual Art Competition, and the Benin Bronze Round Table: The Abuja Conversation. His writing appears in exhibition catalogues, newsletters, and professional arts publications, and he actively participates in international curatorial and research networks through fellowship and residency applications. He is a Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Artists (FSNA) and a member of several other professional bodies.