Alliance Francaise Lagos presents music meets photography exhibition

The exhibition seeks to provide a means to “depict such an abstract yet familiar concept as music”.

The initial call for submissions was made upon the institute’s decision to “to celebrate World Music Day with a special photography exhibition featuring works that celebrate music", as "music and cinema already benefit from great exposure. Besides, we believe it is important for the world to see images of Nigeria other than what they could see in traditional media."

The call spurred responses from more than two dozen photographers. From this abundance, the event’s organisers selected just under half of the applicants as participants for the coming exhibition.

“Each entrant had four pictures, so we had to go through close to 150 pictures to make a final selection,” said Essé Dabla, cultural coordinator of Alliance Française Lagos.

“Looking at the quality creativity and diversity of the pictures we received, there is definitely a means by which photography and music can work together.”

The participants who will be showing their peculiar take on music through photography at the Alliance Française Yaba, Lagos offices are Adekunle Ajayi, Ademola Akinlabi, JB Mairubutu, Afolabi Damilare, Benson Ibeabuchi, Bolaji Oluwatosin, Opeyemi Balogun, Nguher Zaki, Justin Makangara, Anthoni Obayomi, Olatunji Obasa, Selorm Jay, Boomy Tii and Omoregie Osakpolor.

Subsequent to the exhibition, works from these photographers and others will be hosted at the Lycée Français building in Victoria Island, Lagos.

”We compile all the contact details of photographers we have worked with, hoping to be able to have some kind of catalogue that we can share with our counterparts in Nigeria – there are 10 Alliance Française offices in Nigeria – and also outside Nigeria,” Dabla told Music In Africa.

While there is no confirmation about whether the event will continue past this edition, Dabla said there is a possibility. “It is totally something we could replicate either here in Lagos or across the whole Alliance Française network in Nigeria,” she said.

Alliance Française Lagos will launch the exhibition at its Yaba premises on 26 July at 2pm. Entry to the exhibition is free.