Lagos, Nigeria, hosted its inaugural street art festival, transforming segments of the city into an open-air gallery. Osa Okunkpolor, a Nigerian graffiti artist known as Osa Seven and a co-founder of the festival, stated that the initiative aims to make art accessible beyond traditional gallery settings. The objective is to facilitate public interaction with art in everyday environments and to illustrate art's capacity to influence society.
The artwork is displayed on Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, located in Victoria Island, a central and active thoroughfare in Lagos. The festival commenced on a Wednesday and concluded on Monday, December 15.
Despite Lagos having an established arts and cultural scene, street art has had a lower profile compared to other African nations. Painter Ernest Ibe commented on the country's developing recognition of the social and environmental effects of public murals.
Babalola Oluwafemi, a Nigerian artist based in Manchester, United Kingdom, created a mural reflecting aspects of Lagosian culture, including local celebrations, cuisine, and vibrant aesthetics. The peacock, a symbol often associated with beauty and pride in Nigerian art, was incorporated into her work. Oluwafemi noted the public's engagement with the art installations.
Artist Ashaolu Oluwafemi, 34, characterized Lagos as a location where joy and challenges coexist, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a positive outlook amidst difficulties.
The majority of participating artists are Nigerian, with international contributions including a mural by Ottograph from Amsterdam, Netherlands.