The Lagos Biennial has announced its landmark publication and fundraising initiative, poised to establish Africa’s next Museum of Contemporary Art. The event, a publication launch and fundraising dinner, is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at the Shell Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos. The evening will centre on the unveiling of “The Making of an African Capital of Culture,” a voluminous, architecturally conceived book that is far more than a traditional art monograph.
The publication, which spans the first four editions of the Biennial, serves as both a historical chronicle and a curatorial compass for the future. Folakunle Oshun, Director of the Lagos Biennial, writing on LinkedIn, details the book’s ambitious scope and design, stating: “The Lagos Biennial proudly presents its long-anticipated publication, a landmark volume chronicling the last four editions of the Biennial, alongside curatorial reflections from the forthcoming 2026 edition.”
The title itself pays homage to a foundational voice in the Nigerian art scene: “With its title taken from Bisi Silva’s 2017 essay, Lagos: The making of an African Capital of Culture, this architecturally conceived book invites readers to explore groundbreaking artistic interventions staged across Lagos’ iconic colonial and post-independence sites, including the Nigerian Railway Corporation (2017), Independence House (2019), and Tafawa Balewa Square (2021 & 2024).”
This approach underscores how contemporary artists have critically engaged with historically charged environments, thereby “denoting the internationality of Lagos.” The sheer artistic scope of the Biennial is captured within the book’s pages, featuring contributions from a massive roster of creatives:
“Featuring contributions from 161 international artists, the publication captures the vibrancy and complexity of contemporary artistic discourse within historically charged environments.”
The book’s physical form is a work of art in its own right, challenging conventional publishing and establishing the artifact as a sculptural object. Oshun emphasises this radical design: “Housed in a sculptural concrete case modelled after the façade of Tafawa Balewa Square—the symbolic site of Nigeria’s independence celebrations in 1960—the book transcends conventional publishing. It is not merely a coffee table book; it is the coffee table.”
This massive publication measures 55cm by 36cm and weighs in at 7 kilograms, symbolising the weight and significance of the Biennial’s history and future vision. The official launch date—November 4, 2025—is strategically placed to coincide with celebrations for Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
The event is a crucial fundraising engine for the Biennial’s boldest vision yet: establishing a permanent home for African contemporary art. The dinner will formally introduce the Àkéte Collection, the cornerstone of this new institution.
“A strictly limited edition of 65 copies is in production, with 50 copies available to the public as part of the Lagos Biennial’s fundraising campaign. All proceeds will go towards developing and constructing the Lagos Biennial’s new home: Àkéte Collection – Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Lagos.”
This development marks the Biennial’s first major step towards building the cultural infrastructure needed to sustain and showcase modern and contemporary art in Lagos and across the continent. The publication features an impressive list of contributors, including Bisi Silva, Antawan Byrd, Tosin Oshinowo, Yinka Elujoba, and Supo Shasore SAN (Foreword). For those unable to secure one of the limited edition copies, a paperback edition is slated for release in October 2028.
Interested patrons seeking a formal invitation and a limited-edition preview of the publication should share their preferred mailing address with the Biennial team via sunshine.dlangamandla@lagos-biennial.org. For inquiries and pre-orders, visit the Lagos Biennial website: visit www.lagos-biennial.org/publication
@lagos-biennial.org
