Lagos Biennial Kickoff 4th Edition Saturday @ Tafawa Balewa Square

The fourth edition of the Lagos Biennial, a biannual contemporary arts, design, and architecture event opens tomorrow February 3 to 10, at the historical landmark, Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan, Lagos.

Migrated from 2023 to 2024, the fourth edition themed ‘Refuge’ will combine and showcase exhibitions of participating artistes from the 2021 edition, which was restricted to a virtual panel and video screenings of selected participants who worked in teams, and the present edition, resulting in over 80 participants from 30 countries.

Housed in the Tafawa Balewa Square, the biennial will explore the socio-economic and political background of the historical landmark which has served as a racetrack during a colonial era, a cultural space for the Center for Black and African Arts FESTAC 77, and a point for social and political events, in relation to concept of the nation-state.

In addition to its importance in nation-making in the early post-independence phase, and leisure activities in colonial times, Biennial founder and co-artistic director, Folakunle Oshun also sought how the rich cultural heritage of the Lagos can be reimagined, 50 years after FESTAC.

“It (Biennial) offers an opportunity to assess the promises, disappointments, and ongoing ramifications of the nation-state model with its panoply of modes of governance under the aegis of global capital.

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The critical issues of this 21st century, even though global in reach, are played out in local, national, and regional spaces,” said Lagos Biennial 2024 co-Artistic Director, Kathryn Weir.

The opening ceremony begins 10am with press preview, welcome address by biennial founder, Folakunle Oshun, and his co-artistic director, Kathryn Weir. Biennial gates open at 2pm, with performance acts by Kukily Afrofeminist Arts Collective, Native Maqari, Zineb Boujema & Emalohi Iruobe, and celebrated singer-songwriter and guitarist Keziah Jones. Biennial closes February 10, @ 5pm.