Founded by a Yoruba prince and housing more than a thousand works donated from one of Africa’s biggest private collections, the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA) is a must-see for anyone interested in Nigerian and Yoruba art. It sits on a quiet campus on Lagos’ Lekki peninsula and is a great way to see a thousand years of art in one visit.
Quick facts
| Name | Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA) |
| Location | Pan-Atlantic University campus, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Type | Art museum, the first privately built and funded university museum in Nigeria |
| Opened | 19 October 2019 |
| Founder | Prince Yemisi Shyllon, a Yoruba prince of Ake in Abeokuta |
The Yoruba prince behind the museum
Prince Yemisi Shyllon, ranked among the world’s top art collectors and described as Africa’s largest collector in 2016, donated more than 1,000 works from his foundation’s collection of around 7,000. The museum also shows works owned by the university and gifts from other collectors and artists. The collection spans works from as early as the 9th century to the 21st.
Artefacts and artworks to look for
- Ife royal figurine and head: a 14th-century royal figure and an Ife bronze head from the Kingdom of Ife.
- Yoruba masks: a wide collection of Yoruba masks, mostly made in the 20th century.
- Wood carvings: works by celebrated Yoruba carver Lamidi Olonade Fakeye.
- Other ancient treasures: Nok terracotta, Igbo-Ukwu bronzes and 16th-century Benin pieces.
- Modern masters: Aina Onabolu, Akinola Lasekan, Ben Enwonwu (including his 1959 bronze “Africa Dances”), Bruce Onobrakpeya, Yusuf Grillo and more.
- Contemporary stars: El Anatsui, Peju Alatise, Victor Ehikhamenor and Nike Davies-Okundaye.
Why it is a great tourist attraction
- One-stop art history: from ancient Ife and Benin to cutting-edge contemporary art.
- Peaceful setting: a calm university campus away from the Lagos rush.
- A learning hub: exhibitions, research and educational programmes make it good for students and families.
- Strong Yoruba presence: a Yoruba founder, Yoruba masks, Ife royal art and carvings by Yoruba masters.
Take a virtual tour
- Google Arts & Culture: Tour the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art
- Search YouTube for Yemisi Shyllon Museum videos
- Official museum website
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art?
On the main campus of Pan-Atlantic University in Ibeju-Lekki, east of Lagos city. Allow extra travel time because of Lagos traffic, and check visiting arrangements with the museum first.
Is it only Yoruba art?
No. It covers Nigerian art broadly, but includes major Yoruba works such as Ife art, masks and carvings.
Keep exploring: Nike Art Gallery, Osogbo | Ife National Museum
Sources: The Art Newspaper, Quartz, Wikipedia, Independent Collectors. Images are illustrative stock photos of galleries, not of the museum.
