Lagos' First Street Art Festival Transforms City Into 'Open-Air Gallery'

Lagos has been transformed into what organizers are calling an "open-air gallery" for the city's first-ever street art festival.

The festival aims to bring art directly to the people, according to featured artist Ashaolu Oluwafemi. He told the BBC that many residents don't always have the opportunity to visit traditional exhibitions.

The artwork is prominently displayed along Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, a bustling street located in Victoria Island, in the heart of Lagos.

Oluwafemi, who grew up in Lagos, explained that he and fellow artists are using their murals to depict the story of the city and its evolution. "You have to be wise and strong and brilliant to make it out of Lagos," he said.

While Lagos is well-known for its dynamic arts scene, nightlife, and overall creativity, street art is still a relatively new concept. Painter Ernest Ibe told AFP that street art's visibility isn't as strong as in other African countries.

"It's a challenge, but the country is evolving. We are beginning to understand the impact of social murals and how it affects us socially and in our environment in general," Ibe said.

Babalola Oluwafemi, a Nigerian artist who traveled from Manchester, England, for the festival, created a painting reflecting Lagosian culture. Speaking to AFP, she said her work shows how people in Lagos "love to party, love to go to parties, love to eat food. And they just love to be colourful."

The peacock is a recurring symbol in her work, representing beauty.