About
Mission
Narratives Collective reimagines how people experience and collect contemporary African art. Through intimate exhibitions and thoughtful curation, we create meaningful connections between artists and collectors. We believe in the power of personal spaces to transform how art is experienced, appreciated, and invested in.
History
Narratives Collective emerged from a passion for sharing the transformative power of contemporary African art. What began as personal collecting evolved into our first intimate art salon in 2018 - with Alimi Adewale, where we discovered that meaningful connections form when art is experienced in personal spaces.
Our founder's journey from art enthusiast to dedicated collector revealed the need for a more intimate approach to experiencing and collecting art. The traditional gallery setting, while valuable, often missed the opportunity for deeper engagement with both the artwork and their stories.
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In 2025, we present "Narratives of the Diaspora," featuring acclaimed Nigerian artists Ibe Ananaba and Kemi Sijuwade. This exhibition continues our commitment to creating spaces where collectors can engage with works intimately, understand their investment potential, and connect with the narratives that make each piece unique.
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Untitled, Kemi Sijuwade
About Bode Akintan.
Dr. Bode Akintan was born and raised in Nigeria. He has lived in North America for over 25 years and is a resident of Oakville, Ontario. He has shared his love for art by supporting young, talented artists in Nigeria and investing in art exhibitions around the world. He is chairperson of the Art Pantheon gallery in Nigeria and has sponsored artists at the Venice Biennale in Italy, exhibited artists’ works at the London I-54 Contemporary African art fair and at the Affordable Art fair in New York.
He is a physician, a Pediatric psychiatrist and Assistant Professor of psychiatry at University of Toronto.
About Zviko Mhakayakora.
Zviko is a Toronto-based curator and designer who has brought to life exhibitions like Pixelation, Where is Home, The Sawubona Project, Decussation, and This Feels like Home across Toronto hubs including OCADU, The Drake Hotel, Harbourfront Centre, and Artscape Youngplace. Over 9 years, she has featured artists like Lido Pimienta, Audrey Hudson, Daniéle Dennis, Bidemi Oloyede, Jessica Karuhanga, Farihah Shah, and Jalani Morgan. She currently chairs the board of DesignTO and works in Business Development at Schulich, connecting top talent to companies like PepsiCo, L'Oreal, Sobeys, and Metrolinx. She first collaborated with Bode in 2018 to bring Narratives to life featuring Alimi Adewale, and has returned now to co-curate Narratives of the Diaspora, featuring artists Ibe Ananaba and Kemi Sijuwade. She is also a Realtor, helping corporate clients and immigrants find new homes in Toronto and beyond.
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A truly multifaceted creative community activator!
