Legendary Lagos: Street art festival showcases talent, urban creativity

Lagos is set to come alive with colour and creativity as the Lagos Street Art Festival (LSAF) 2025 returns, offering a vibrant platform for artists to showcase expression, community, and identity through public art.

The festival, themed “Legendary Lagos: City of Dreams,” transforms city walls, walkways, and open spaces into canvases that celebrate the bold, dynamic spirit of Nigeria’s largest city.

Founded by renowned visual artists Osa Okunkpolor (Osa Seven) and Akinlabi Akinbulumo (Phisha), the festival empowers both emerging and established creatives to express themselves freely and legally, highlighting the role of art in storytelling, pride, and social connection.

According to Karishma Daryani-Chugani, a founding council member, LSAF provides a professional platform for non-traditional artists to showcase their work publicly.

For Osa Seven, the festival goes beyond beautification; it is a movement of empowerment, giving artists the chance to display their talent even outside galleries.

Fellow council member Adaora Mbelu said the festival aims to make street art a global event, combining workshops and public installations to showcase creativity to the world.

Partners including Berger Paints, LASAA, Lagos Tourism, Adidas, and Bature Brewery support the festival, emphasizing art as a tool for education, mental health, community engagement, and identity.

Fatiu Akiolu, managing director of LASAA, noted that the festival aligns with efforts to maintain Lagos as aesthetically appealing, orderly, and culturally dynamic.

The festival kicks off with “Story Walls” on November 25 and 27, where artists will collaborate on large-scale murals across Lagos Mainland, reflecting the city’s diversity and resilience.

The main Public Art Painting phase runs from December 4 to 10, covering areas from Surulere to Lekki and Ikeja to Yaba, reimagining urban spaces through collective artistry.

Capacity building is central to LSAF, with workshops hosted by the British Council on December 10, including Design Thinking and Brand Storytelling, offering artists practical skills to develop their craft and careers.

Fireside Chats and Artist Talks on December 11 will explore Lagos’ creative economy and provide mentorship opportunities.

The festival concludes with a Pop-Up Event on December 13 and the OSA 7 x 10 Exhibition from December 12 to 15, celebrating Osa Seven’s decade-long contribution to Nigerian street culture through ten signature works.

At its core, LSAF 2025 celebrates artists, their voices, and their creativity, turning everyday spaces into public galleries.

The festival fosters collaboration, mentorship, and growth, while encouraging emerging talents to gain visibility locally and internationally.

By turning Lagos into an open-air gallery, the festival not only beautifies the city but also connects communities, tells powerful stories, and inspires social change—demonstrating the transformative power of street art for the city and its people.