LAST MONTH, when Benin’s Palais de la Marina in Cotonou opened its doors, a belated history class swung into session. Organized by the president’s office and titled “Benin Art from Yesterday to Today, from Restitution to Revelation,” the exhibition paired work by thirty-four contemporary Beninese artists with a trove of twenty-six royal objects pillaged by the… Continue reading Artforum: Kingdom Comeback – the spectacular return of Benin’s looted art
Charly Boy decided he would wear rouge. It was the 1970s, the height of the sexual revolution in the West, so it wasn’t unusual for men to be seen in makeup. But for a young student in the United States coming from a small town in Nigeria, dressing in ways that drew attention to himself… Continue reading New York Times: What It Means to Dress in Lagos
For ‘Symphonie au Kente’ (Symphony of Kente), Abdoulaye Konaté has merged two rich, long-standing textile traditions from Ghana and his native Mali. This is an unlikely pairing: although located in the same region, the two nations do not share a language or a political system, and travel between both countries often requires patience with knotty… Continue reading Frieze: How Abdoulaye Konaté Knits Together West African Cultural Heritage
“Made-in-Nigeria goods are taking on a new shine,” says Femi Olayebi, founder of the Lagos Leather Fair and the designer of an eponymous handbag label. “In the past few years a surge of designers has conscientiously made grand efforts to offer beautifully made goods.” Now everyone wants a piece. Read more HERE
Like other African cities, or the entire continent for that matter - who are victims of the West’s pen, weaponized by half-truths, misconceptions, single stories and unfortunate generalizations – Lagos is a misrepresented little giant. Yes, we are coastal and really should be investing more in water transportation instead of choking our roads with more… Continue reading Lagos is Not Only Yellow Buses and Hours-Long Traffic
AYODEJI ROTINWA and EROMO EGBEJULE profile Damini Ogulu, better known as Burna Boy, the Nigerian entertainment industry’s new bride. As a baby, Damini Ogulu would be asleep in the car while the great Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, king of Afrobeat went for performances with his manager, the former’s grandfather, Benson Idonije. This was long before Damini grew… Continue reading THISDAY – Burna Boy: A Newfangled Debut
Get ready to bake. It’s hot or humid in Lagos all year round. Not warm. Hot. Only from mid-December to January does the city cool off, when the Harmattan winds bring a plague of dust instead. When you arrive at the airport, have your sunglasses and hat ready. And skip the airport taxis: you’ll have… Continue reading Roads & Kingdoms: 18 Things to Know Before you Go to Lagos
The Rotinwa Read 