Nigerian spoken word poet Ibquake represented the country at the opening ceremony of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal, joining more than 1,100 performers in a cultural showcase marking the first Olympic event to be hosted on African soil.
The ceremony took place on October 31 at Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio, just outside Dakar, bringing together artists, musicians, dancers and performers to celebrate African culture and creativity. Among those selected for the international showcase was Ibukunoluwa Aramide Ajagbe, professionally known as Ibquake, who delivered a spoken word performance highlighting African identity, heritage and the aspirations of the continent’s younger generation.
Dressed in a structured white gown featuring a sculptural bodice and braided detailing, the Nigerian poet performed alongside dancers wearing elaborate feathered and textured costumes. Her appearance formed part of a wider artistic production combining music, dance, visual arts and spoken word to introduce audiences to the cultural diversity of Africa.
Ibquake’s performance included verses celebrating the African child and the possibilities ahead for the continent. Among the lines she delivered were: “We carry a flame for the African child to look beyond the horizon… We are both root and revolution.”
She shared the stage with several established African entertainers and cultural figures featured in the ceremony’s programme. Senegalese music legends Baaba Maal and Kine Lam, music group Daara J Family, Gambian kora musician Sona Jobarteh and social media personality Khaby Lame were among the other names involved in the celebration.
For Ibquake, the performance carried a personal meaning beyond the opportunity to appear before an international audience. Following the ceremony, she reflected on the experience in a social media post, imagining how she would one day explain to her daughter that she had witnessed and participated in the historic moment when the Olympic movement first came to Africa.
“My daughter will one day ask me when the first Olympics games happened in Africa. And I’ll answer with speed and alacrity. She’ll ask me how I know… And I’ll say… Because mummy was a part of it,” she wrote.
She also described her life as a testament to God’s goodness and reaffirmed her commitment to telling African stories “Powerfully… Boldly.” Her message ended with an expression of pride in the continent and its cultural identity, declaring that Africa would always be great in her eyes.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games run from October 31 to November 13, bringing together approximately 2,700 young athletes representing 204 National Olympic Committees, alongside members of the Youth Refugee Olympic Team. The programme features 25 sports and 153 medal events, with competitions and activities taking place across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.
Senegal’s hosting of the Games marks a significant moment for African sport, placing the continent at the centre of an international Olympic event. Ibquake’s participation in the opening ceremony added a Nigerian creative voice to the occasion, using spoken word to bring African heritage and the ambitions of its young people into the celebration.
