The 2022 edition of the LagosPhoto Festival, held from October 29 to November 12, transformed Lagos into a hub of powerful photographic expression. Themed “Remember Me – Liberated Bodies, Charged Objects,” this 13th edition invited audiences to reflect on how photography can reclaim memory, challenge historical narratives, and imagine new cultural futures.
The event took place at the Alliance Française/Mike Adenuga Centre in Ikoyi and featured satellite exhibitions in other parts of the city, including Falomo Roundabout. This year’s curatorial approach emphasized memory as an act of resistance—particularly in relation to Africa’s colonial past and present-day efforts to reclaim identity and heritage.
Curatorial Vision: A New Language of Visual Resistance
Led by acclaimed curator Azu Nwagbogu of the African Artists’ Foundation, the festival showcased works that blurred the lines between the past, present, and future. Participating artists used photography to dismantle dominant historical frameworks and revive ancestral voices through visual storytelling. The exhibition challenged viewers to question how archives—especially colonial ones—have shaped African realities.
Co-curator Princess Ayoola explained that photography in the digital age functions as a “mental extension,” helping people remember, dream, and redefine cultural identity in the context of a virtual, fast-paced world. The theme invited artists to treat images as charged objects capable of carrying complex histories and future possibilities.
Nigerian Artists Lead a Visual Reawakening
LagosPhoto 2022 featured over 30 photographers from Nigeria and across the globe. Nigerian artists stood out for their bold exploration of contemporary issues, from youth culture to resistance movements and environmental concerns. Notable contributors included Taiwo Aina, Morenike Ajayi, Seun Adeniyi, Toyin Adedokun, and Olaoluwa Adamu.
Their photography documented everyday struggles and triumphs, while also serving as a medium for political commentary. Several artists revisited significant events, such as the #EndSARS protests, bringing renewed attention to Nigeria’s ongoing fight for justice, accountability, and youth empowerment.
Photography as Public Dialogue
Beyond gallery walls, LagosPhoto activated public spaces with its art installations, fostering engagement with a wider audience. Programs included exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, outdoor displays, and film screenings, all aimed at deepening public understanding of photography as a tool for advocacy and transformation.
A standout initiative titled “Unpacking the Suitcase” delved into family memory and migration, telling the story of Prince Emmanuel Adewale Oyenuga through long-lost belongings. Such projects demonstrated the festival’s commitment to connecting personal narratives with broader historical and cultural conversations.
Why LagosPhoto 2022 Was More Than an Art Show
LagosPhoto Festival 2022 underscored photography’s ability to serve as both a mirror and a megaphone—reflecting society while amplifying silenced voices. By addressing themes like cultural restitution, climate change, digital identity, and postcolonial recovery, the event emphasized that visual storytelling is an essential part of national healing and future-building.
The curators and artists used the power of the image not just to recall the past but to reshape it—challenging traditional archives and spotlighting African perspectives in the global artistic landscape.
Conclusion
The 2022 LagosPhoto Festival proved to be a vital platform for Nigerian and African photographers who are using their craft to push boundaries and provoke thought. Under the evocative theme “Remember Me – Liberated Bodies, Charged Objects,” the event celebrated photography as a dynamic force for memory, liberation, and cultural reclamation in Nigeria and beyond.
