In the historic town of Badagry, Lagos, something beautiful is taking root. Nine artists are reclaiming their community's narrative through art, transforming painful histories into powerful stories of resilience, dignity, and hope.

The Badagry Young Contemporaries, working under the Badagry Contemporary Art Foundation, recently unveiled their second annual group exhibition titled "Gbeto: An Ode to Humanism" at the Heritage Museum. Curated by Paul Ayihawu, the show brings together artists Muyideen Olayinka, Mariam Olubunmi, Andrew Nathan, Larry The Great, Gbolahan Shonibare, Sejiro Mesewaku, Muktar Mustafa, Emenandu Moses, and Ogunshola Clinton, each contributing their unique vision to celebrate their shared heritage.

What makes this exhibition special is how these artists transform challenging histories into affirming narratives. Muyideen Olayinka captures the quiet strength found in everyday life, honoring memory and the dignified survival of communities. His work reminds viewers that resilience lives in ordinary moments.

Mariam Olubunmi brings a particularly moving approach with her signature pyro-collage technique, burning and reconstructing materials on mirrored surfaces. Her art emerged from her own journey of survival and renewal, creating portraits that celebrate the persistence of cultural identity and spirituality rooted in Ogu philosophy.

Andrew Nathan tackles the difficult history of the transatlantic slave trade with emotional honesty, but his paintings ultimately assert human dignity and resistance. Rather than dwelling on trauma, his work honors those who endured and survived, presenting them as witnesses who maintained their humanity against all odds.

Meanwhile, Sejiro Mesewaku captures the joyful vitality of Ogu cultural heritage through paintings that translate traditional dances, rituals, and communal gatherings into visual rhythm. His piece "Rhythm of the Ancestors" positions tradition not as something frozen in the past, but as a living, evolving force that enriches contemporary identity.

Pop graffiti artist Larry The Great adds vibrant urban energy to the exhibition, blending street culture with introspection. His bright colors and animated figures celebrate the adaptability and modern expression of Nigerian identity, connecting tradition with the pulse of contemporary urban life.

The Ripple Effect

The impact of this initiative extends far beyond the gallery walls. With support from the Adegbola Art Project and the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Badagry Young Contemporaries are successfully positioning their community as an active hub of contemporary cultural production, not a peripheral location.

In November 2025, BYC expanded their reach with the Art Salon at the British Council Nigeria during Creative Showcase Weekend. This alternative platform gave emerging artists greater visibility and culminated in meaningful conversations about how creative practice sustains heritage and fosters collective identity.

Curator Paul Ayihawu beautifully summarized the vision: "This second annual exhibition is about continuity, showing that Badagry has stories to tell, artists to nurture, and ideas that matter within national and global conversations."

Through their commitment to cultural reclamation and community building, these nine artists prove that art serves as more than aesthetic expression. It functions as social infrastructure, connecting past and present while imagining more inclusive futures for Nigerian art. Their work reminds us that every community has powerful stories worth celebrating and preserving for generations to come.