Germany has invited Nigerian artists to participate in the YoruBuddy competition, an initiative celebrating the cultural connection between Nigeria and Germany through art.
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The competition, relaunched by the German Consulate General in Lagos, is asking artists to create an original design for a two-metre Buddy Bear sculpture. The winning design will receive a prize of ₦1.5m.
According to the organisers, the design should be bold and eye-catching, drawing inspiration from Nigerian culture, with particular attention to Lagos, its patterns, colours, symbols and cultural identity.
The competition is open to every Nigerian artist, including self-taught artists, students and professional artists. Participants are expected to submit an original small-scale artwork, such as a canvas or illustration, showing how the full-size Buddy Bear would look when painted.
The organisers said the submission should reflect the artist’s creative voice and relationship with their environment. Artists are encouraged to incorporate elements inspired by Nigerian culture, particularly Lagos and the Southwest.
The competition notes that participants may draw inspiration from recognised Nigerian art traditions, including the Osogbo school and the Ibadan school, or use their own visual language.
Entry into the competition is free, while the submission deadline is October 25, 2026. It also aims to showcase Nigerian creativity.
The German Consulate General in Lagos and the Goethe-Institut are associated with the initiative, which carries the theme of creating a Buddy Bear that reflects Nigerian identity and the connection between both countries.
Requirements
Applicants must be Nigerian artists and may be self-taught, students or professionals. The proposed design must be original and should show how a two-metre Buddy Bear sculpture would look when painted. The work should be submitted as a canvas, illustration or other small-scale artwork.
How to apply
Interested artists should prepare their YoruBuddy design and submit it through the official competition platform at https://yorubuddy.com/ before the October 25, 2026 deadline. Entry is free.
