A Presentation and Exhibition of Botanical and Ethnobotanical Documentation of Plant Knowledge by Monai McCullough
U.S. based ecological researcher and farmer Monai McCullough recently concluded a six-week residency at G.A.S. Foundation, based primarily at the G.A.S. Farm House in Ikiṣẹ. During her time in residence, she focused on expanding her ongoing research project Trees of Nigeria, an archive that documents trees, explores their cultural and spiritual significance, and seeks to instil pride within their stewards. A central aspect of her research involved visiting agricultural institutions, participating in hands-on planting activities, and meeting with traditional herbalists to deepen her understanding of local plant knowledge and ecological practices.
As her residency drew to a close, Monai hosted Trees of Nigeria on 23rd April 2026, bringing together fellow residents, G.A.S. staff, friends, and individuals she had met during her stay. The event centred on her ongoing research into trees and an exhibition of field notes compiled during trips to Ogun, Oyo, and Lagos State. Framed as a field-based inquiry, it traced how ecological knowledge is produced through observation, encounter, and exchange.
The event opened with a presentation in which Monai reflected on how the landscape of the G.A.S. Farm House shaped her approach to fieldwork and documentation. She then led visitors through the exhibition, beginning in the Inner Studio, a working space within the Farm House, where she presented catalogued plant specimens identified through independent study and guided walks. She then moved into the wet studio space, where she introduced herbal preparations alongside collected plant materials. Here, she shifted between botanical classification and oral knowledge systems, highlighting the ways plants are understood, prepared, and used within both scientific and cultural contexts. This was followed by a screening of an excerpt from her interview with Ganiu lateef Atimowa, a local herbalist in Ikiṣẹ, in which he reflected on plant preparation and inherited medicinal knowledge.
The programme concluded with a nature walk through Ikiṣẹ, led by Ganiu, who expanded on the histories and uses of plants in the area and introduced participants to his shrine, offering insight into the relationship between herbal knowledge and spiritual practice.
Event Details
Date: 23th April, 2026
Time: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: 9b, Hakeem Dickson Drive, off T.F. Kuboye Road, Oniru, Lagos
About Monai McCullough
Monai McCullough is a multidisciplinary ecological researcher, and farmer, whose work is deeply rooted in the decolonisation of horticulture. Monai reimagines relationships to nature, through education, regenerative practices and workshops that bring people into deeper dialogue with the world around us and environmental justice. Her ongoing project, Trees of Nigeria is an ecological research archive and creative mapping of sacred, medicinal, and coastal trees across Nigeria and Benin Republic. By collecting oral histories, folklore, and field data, Monai seeks to honor place-based knowledge while advocating for ecological reparations for the land and its stewards.
Image of Monai McCullough. Photo: Daniel Uwaga.
Monai's residency is generously supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art.
