The National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN), under the leadership of its Artistic Director/Chief Executive Officer, Hajja Kaltume Bulama Gana, has continued to strengthen Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy, international partnerships and institutional capacity through the performing arts and digital transformation.

At its recent exhibition titled, Roots & Roofs, held at the Kolanut Gallery, Asokoro, Abuja, the troupe captivated audiences with When Walls Remember, a one-movement dance oratorio, combining dance, music, narration and indigenous performance traditions.

The performance, which formed part of the Roots & Roofs: Pan-African Indigenous Skills Development (PAID) Programme, explored the relationship between African architecture, culture, community and memory.

Through a symbolic journey across cultural spaces including the Yoruba Àgbo Ilé, Northern Nigerian Zaure, royal courtyards of Benin, Igbo Obi, Bida brass-working communities, Vunon festival grounds and the Tiv Agbajen, the production portrayed African architecture as a living repository of identity, creativity, communal values and cultural continuity.

The Roots & Roofs initiative of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) was implemented in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Nigeria, British Council Nigeria, Embassy of Spain in Nigeria, Embassy of Ireland in Nigeria, Institute of African and Diaspora Studies (IADS), and the National Troupe of Nigeria.

The project is supported by Spaces of Culture under the Partnerships for Culture programme funded by the European Union through EUNIC Global.

In a further demonstration of cultural diplomacy, the troupe is deepening the cultural relationship with China through a unique musical exchange featuring Chinese traditional drums alongside indigenous Nigerian drums, creating a platform for cultural dialogue and mutual appreciation between both Nations.

Meanwhile, the NTN is strengthening its internal capacity through an intensive Digital Literacy and Capacity Building Training Programme for staff. The initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s drive towards a paperless, efficient and digitally enabled civil service and is aimed at improving staff digital competence, operational efficiency, transparency and service delivery.

Through these initiatives, the National Troupe of Nigeria continues to demonstrate its commitment to preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage, promoting international cultural exchange, embracing innovation and building a more efficient and globally relevant cultural institution.