Lagos' creatives redefine art, music, and tech, shaping Africa's cultural and economic future.
Photo: Andrew Esiebo for Global Citizen
For decades, Nigerian creatives have redefined global culture, and Lagos, the cultural capital, has long been synonymous with vibrant energy and boundless creativity of a different level. From Fela Kuti’s afrobeat anthems, Burna Boy’s Grammy-winning fusion, Tems’ soul-stirring music, Ayra Starr’s meteoric rise to award-winning filmmaker, and authors like Roye Okupe, creatives have used their work to capture the complexities of Nigerian life while redefining the possibilities of African creativity.
This has inspired a generation of creatives across multiple disciplines, from music and fashion to art, and also set the stage for a global movement that is now making Lagos a must-visit destination for art, music, and fashion enthusiasts.
Afrobeats Takes the Global Stage
Nigerian artists are making waves on the global music scene, with streaming numbers and international sold-out concerts reflecting their growing influence and popularity. For instance, Rema's "Calm Down" with Selena Gomez reached a monumental 1 billion views and counting on YouTube. Singer Wizkid (Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun) has over 8 billion streams on Spotify. Another artist, Asake, sold out the 20,000-capacity O2 Arena following the release of his third album. Hollywood is also catching on to using afrobeats as soundtracks in blockbuster movies. A similar trend can also be seen in the videogame industry, particularly in Esports. These milestones highlight the global appeal of afrobeats and solidify Lagos as a cultural capital that continues to shape international trends in the music industry.
Creative Artistry in Lagos
Nigerian creatives’ impact isn’t limited to music. Lagos-based designers like Lisa Folawiyo are revolutionizing fashion, blending African traditions with modern aesthetics. Similarly, Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye, a well-known artist, gallerist, and batik and adire textiles designer established the Nike Art Foundation to train aspiring young visual artists and craftspeople. She also established the Nike Art Gallery to showcase the work of legendary African artists to art enthusiasts and tourists from all around the world, further amplifying Lagos’ creative influence.
The impact of Lagos creatives extends beyond its geographical borders; their culture has permeated the language barriers on a global scale. Words like “japa” (to emigrate), “agbero” (thug), “abi” (right) and “Naija” (Nigeria) — all now in the Oxford English Dictionary — reflect Lagos’ linguistic influence.
Lagos, the Tech Hub of Africa
Lagos also has a vibrant tech startup scene that is buzzing with global investors and innovators. Tech startup success stories like Paystack and Flutterwave have been setting the pace in payment systems in Nigeria and across Africa. Opay Digital Services Limited is making financial services more accessible, particularly for underserved communities. In tech education, Andela is empowering young talents with information technology (IT) skills and connecting them with career opportunities in the global tech industry.
Over the years, the city has seen increasing investments from a number of venture capitalists who are finding substantial value, impressive returns on investment, and significant social impact. These advancements drive economic growth and position Lagos as a leader in Africa’s digital transformation.
An Advocacy Powerhouse
Behind Lagos' most celebrated achievements are visionary leaders whose social impact has reshaped livelihoods across the city. Take, for example, the Slum to School, a grassroots initiative founded by Otto Orondaam. By partnering with communities to provide education, healthcare, and mentorship to children in Lagos’ informal settlements, the initiative has reduced illiteracy rates and empowered families to break cycles of poverty.
Similarly, Chess in Slums Africa, spearheaded by Tunde Onakoya, has transformed lives in Makoko and other marginalized neighborhoods. Through chess training and educational support, the initiative has equipped disadvantaged youth with critical thinking skills and opportunities to compete globally — with some even earning some scholarships to international schools. These social impact initiatives exemplify how Lagos’ visionaries are tackling systemic inequities head-on, proving that social innovation is as vital to the city’s progress as its economic triumphs.
Afrobeat and art also play a role in advocacy. Burna Boy’s lyrics often tackle social justice, while Falz uses his platform to advocate for women’s rights and better governance. Initiatives like Art X Lagos provide a platform for emerging artists to showcase work that addresses pressing social issues, proving that art in Lagos is as much about activism as it is about expression.
Lagos as a Tourist Destination
The creative scene in Lagos has also transformed the city into a major tourist destination. “Detty December” — yes, that buzzing slang about high-energy music concerts, weddings, art exhibitions, and fashion shows during the holidays, draws thousands of visitors from around the world. The spectacular events from the 2024 Detty December alone contributed over $71.6 million to the Lagos state revenue.
The creative economy’s impact in Lagos makes it easy to see that it positions the city with endless opportunities, attracting investors and fostering economic growth. With an increasing number of startups in fashion, tech, and entertainment emerging from the city, creatives are generating jobs, opportunities, and boosting local businesses.
However, the impact of Lagos’ creative economy will be limited without the right support and favorable policies that support small- and medium-scale businesses. Investing in infrastructure and introducing these policies can stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and ensure that Lagosians remain competitive, reinforcing the city's position as a global cultural center and tourist destination. This is where large-scale initiatives like Move Afrika exemplify how creative events can become a catalyst to drive transformative investments and change.
Move Afrika: Changing the Narrative
The 2025 edition of Move Afrika tour, featuring John Legend, is coming to the vibrant city of Lagos on February 25. Its goal is to promote job creation, empower entrepreneurs and inspire action for health financing, especially in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
By engaging local artists, vendors, agencies, and crews, we drive investments into local communities and create on-the-job training and skill development opportunities.
Move Afrika presents an opportunity to drive a decisive shift in Africa’s narrative from struggle and stagnation to one that recognizes it as a powerhouse of talents, creativity, and innovation. With Move Afrika, we are igniting a future where Africa stands as a global powerhouse — a beacon of inspiration for generations to come and motivate others to join the movement for sustainable change.
Read the original article on Global Citizen.
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