Veteran creative artiste and Professor of Choreography and Performance Aesthetics, Prof. Rasaki Ojo Bakare, will lead Nigeria’s contingent to the 2026 global Festival of Arts and Crafts holding in India from 31st January to 15th February 2026.
This is happening even as he just returned from England where he directed his new play; KASHIMAWO, for performance at Shaw Theatre, London courtesy of Duke of Shomolu Foundation. Prof Bakare is a prolific arts creator. Among his over two hundred commissioned command performances are three presidential inauguration command performances and the opening and closing ceremonies of two Fifa organised games.
The Aramoko-Ekiti born creative guru is a staff of Federal University Oye-Ekiti where he was the pioneer Dean of Postgraduate School and the pioneer Dean, Faculty of Arts. Between December 2019 and August 2025, he was Ekiti State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy. I
n 1998, he was honoured with Ekiti State Merit Award by the then military administrator, Inuwa Bawa, while he was decorated as Ekiti Cultural Ambassador in 2013 by the then Governor John Kayode Fayemi. A serial award winner, Prof. Bakare has led Nigeria to over 10 global cultural competitions, winning laurels for the country.
A former Artistic Director of Abuja National Carnival, former Assistant Director, National Troupe of Nigeria, and former Choreographer, National Troupe of Gambia, Prof Bakare is one of Nigeria’s most sought- after consultants in the creative sector. The extremely versatile creative mind has worked in all the continents of the world.
In January 2026, he will be the Artistic Director leading the Calabar based Calasvegas Carnival Band Dance Troupe which has been selected by the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy to represent Nigeria at the global event in India. He will be handling the assignment in conjunction with the Chairman of Calasvegas Band who is also the MD/ CEO of The Mirage Hospitality Group; High Chief Edem Duke who is a former Honourable Minister for Arts, Culture and Tourism.