Nigerian spoken word artiste Ibukunoluwa Aramide Ajagbe, popularly known as Ibquake, represented the country at the opening ceremony of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal. The historic ceremony, held at Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio, featured more than 1,100 performers showcasing African music, dance and culture.
Dressed in a structured white gown, Ibquake delivered a spoken word performance celebrating African identity, heritage and the future of young people on the continent. Other performers included Baaba Maal, Kiné Lam, Daara J Family, Sona Jobarteh and Khaby Lame. During her performance, she declared: “We carry a flame for the African child to look beyond the horizon… We are both root and revolution.”
Reflecting on the experience, Ibquake said she would one day tell her daughter that she was part of the historic occasion when the Olympic Games first came to Africa. She also described her life as a testament to God’s goodness and reaffirmed her commitment to telling African stories boldly and powerfully. The Games run from October 31 to November 13, featuring approximately 2,700 young athletes competing across 25 sports.
