Event: Herbal Music

On May 29, 2026, G.A.S. Lagos hosted Herbal Music, a live musical performance by Okwei Odili and Afro-jazz guitarist Adedayo Allegro Michael Lopez, exploring organic Nigerian sound traditions. Okwei immersed herself in medicinal plant cultivation while exploring the relationship between music and agriculture. During this time, she recorded ambient farm sounds, experimented with plant-based instruments and natural resonators, and learned traditional Yoruba healing songs and chants.which she presented alongside older compositions. 

The session opened with an introduction by G.A.S. Residency and Project Manager Adekunle Adebayo, who welcomed guests and provided context for the evening's presentation. Okwei then introduced her collaborator, Afro-jazz guitarist Adedayo Allegro Michael Lopez, before reflecting on the event title, Herbal Music, and the research that informed it.

She explained that her time at the G.A.S. Farm House was dedicated to exploring nature and plant life, subjects that have been central to her artistic practice for more than twenty years. Fascinated by the medicinal properties of plants, she spoke about their role in preserving heritage and traditional knowledge, noting the deep connections between music and healing across different cultural and spiritual contexts. Drawing examples from religious and communal spaces, she highlighted how music has long served as a vehicle for healing. 

Throughout the performance, Okwei interwove songs with stories and reflections, offering insight into their meanings and origins. One of the songs she performed was Odoyewu, whose title translates as "My Love,” in Twi. Accompanying herself on traditional instruments including the shekere and calabash, she moved between song and storytelling, while Lopez alternated between electric and acoustic guitar which complemented the performance.