ART X Lagos returns for ninth edition

Over the years, the event, which claims to be the “leading international art fair in West Africa,” has paraded artists across different disciplines from over 70 countries. Musicians who have played at Art X Lagos over the years include Falana, Simi, Vector, Obongjayar and Azekel, among others.

Organisers say this year’s edition, which will run under the theme Promised Lands, will function as a nexus between artists, cultural practitioners, and fairgoers alike. The theme will also explore places  –  real and imagined  –  that offer hope and a vision of greater freedoms, against a backdrop of political and socio-economic difficulties being experienced across Africa and beyond.

ART X Lagos 2024 will feature live music, 10 curated galleries featuring African and diaspora artists, participatory spaces and films by emerging filmmakers.

This year’s programme also includes a conversation with filmmaker Andrew Dosunmu on storytelling, a collaboration between ART X Live! and Native exploring the influence of traditional African music on youth culture, and a discussion with Nigerian filmmaker and researcher Ed Keazor and Ethiopian writer, cultural producer and art curator Missla Libsekal.

“We are thrilled to present an exceptional lineup of artists, exhibitions and galleries for our ninth edition, representing the diverse and dynamic voices emerging from all corners of Africa and the diaspora,” ART X Lagos founder Tokini Peterside-Schwebig said. “Promised Lands is a theme that resonates deeply with our collective journey  –  reflecting on where we are and envisioning where we aspire to be.

“It was crucial for us to create a platform that not only anchors the African art movement but also drives meaningful conversations about the social, political, and cultural landscapes of our continent. We remain dedicated to creating an absolutely cannot-miss experience for our artists, cultural partners, gallerists, collectors and visitors from Africa and around the world.”

Music executive Lanre Masha, West Africa director at music distribution company The Orchard, and filmmaker Ayo Lawson return as curators for the event.

Discussing the role of curators at Art X Lagos, Masha said: “They are cultural mediators and interpreters. They serve as a bridge between the audience and the artist, the art and the public. They understand the artist to the point where they are able to identify the artist that is relevant for today’s time, or this current moment, event or presentation. Curators are essentially the purveyors of cool and tastemakers in their own right.”