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Victor Olaiya It was a fitting way to end 2014 as highlife music legend Victor Olaiya rode the stage at the December 19 Afropolitan Vibes, which continues to grow into a veritable live music hangout for many young Lagosians. The success of the AV has made it an event to look forward to every month due to its eclectic atmosphere. And since the move to the main stage of the Freedom Park, the crowd has seemed to increase and become more diverse than when the show was at the smaller theatre stage. Blufunk singer and guitarist Keziah Jones also performed on the night. Although I interviewed him sometime in 2011, it was my first time to see him play live. Though he only did about three songs, his dexterity on the guitar was not lost on crowd as the women called out for him to take off his shirt like he has done in the past mainly with European audiences. Perhaps not wanting to divert the attention of the crowd from the music or due to the different sensibilities of the Lagos audience, KJ dec...

Weird MC performing Ijoya Even as Lagosians have become more cautious of handshakes and hugs in the days after the Ebola virus disease began claiming lives in the city, many citizens still gather in public to have fun and enjoy live music. For the patrons and followers of the monthly live music Afropolitan Vibes at Freedom Park, Friday August 15 would not be forgotten too quickly. When veteran rapper Weird MC took to the stage to perform her legendary hit songs Allen Avenue and Ijoya , all they could do was applaud as she shared fist bumps all around with the audience. “Forget Ebola,” she said, ‘make we chop knuckle” as she greeted the fans before getting them in the groove and making sure they understood that she still “own[ed] the dance.” While we danced, it was easy to forget about all the bad news and just revel in the moment. After all, the spirit of Lagos cannot be cowed by any “ gaddem ” disease. Other performers on the night were Show Dem Camp, Isedale and founder of the Afropo...

Seun Kuti and fans  It has been two years since the massive anti-subsidy removal demonstrations that held Nigeria to a standstill in January 2012. Looking back through my archives, I discovered these images with Nigerian celebrities - singers, musicians, actors, comedians and rappers - who stood with the masses against injustice and insensitivity of the Goodluck Jonathan government. They spoke out at Ojota and used their image to draw people out to the streets in protest. Today many of them have forgotten. But some are still in the fight. This post is to remind everyone involved that there's still a lot to fight for. Comedian Jedi and friends Afrobeat singer Ade Bantu Rapper Eedris Abdulkareem Actor/director Kunle Afolayan with fans  Actress Bombo Akintola Waka queen Salawa Abeni addressing the crowd

  Hiking on the back of trucks is a common means of travel for many poor people who come to Lagos in search of the good life. The bulk of them come from the North and become porters, fetchers of water and other menial jobs. They too are the earth's.

Happy New Year 2014! Glad to be back on the blog this year and my first post is about the building in the background and its relationship with the history of my country. This year marks a century of the existence of the entity called Nigeria. In 1914, British colonial governor general Lord Frederick Lugard amalgamated the Northern and Southern Protectorates to form one unified Nigeria. It was this building in Badagry where Lugard's HQ existed and it was here that he signed the declaration of amalgamation. It stands as a monument to our past and could help shed light on our future. As the Federal Government of Nigeria is set to celebrate the country's Centenary this year, this building will come back into great focus. It has already undergone renovation preparatory to the activities that will hold in and around it. A hundred years after the amalgamation of Nigeria's many peoples, tribes and races, lots of suspicions, misgivings and animosities are still evident in my country...

Profile: Kaye Whiteman  Last week, 77 year-old Englishman Kaye Whiteman was in Lagos for a public presentation of his book Lagos: A Cultural and Historical Companion . During that trip he attended a session where Lagos' literati examined the issues presented in the book. Having produced some of the images used in the book, I also attended and spoke about the choice of the cover photo. The former editor of West African magazine spoke about the Lagos he experienced in the 1950s and 60s and the changes that have taken place today. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Femke van Zeijl, Igoni Barrett & Victor Ehikhamenor Tolu Ogunlesi, Van Zeijl, Deji Toye, Whiteman &Toni Kan Ogunlesi, Whiteman & Lolade Adewuyi