ASIRI Magazine presents the exhibition titled ‘Colours of Our History: The 1851 Bombardment of Lagos and other Stories’ at the ongoing 20th Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF). The exhibition, which had a grand opening on Tuesday, will feature the unveiling of an installation art on Saturday, November 10 and closes on Sunday, November 11.
According to a statement from the organisers, “The 1851 Invasion of Lagos by the British Naval Forces is a story that needs to be told over and over again”.
Was it just the rift between Oba Kosoko and his Uncle Oba Akitoye that gave way for the Invasion? Was it just a case of clearing the flirt and human ritual practices happening back then in Old Eko? Or was it just a case of British Colonial domination over the city that later became one of the biggest slave ports in West Africa? These are some of the questions the exhibition organised by ASIRI Magazine published by Damola Ogundele poses 167 years later.
“Whatever the reason is, the Invasion later led to the annexation of Lagos to the British Colony in 1861. The Ultimate aim of the British Crown Colony,” says the statement.
The exhibition features a performance re-enactment of the 1851 Invasion, an installation art piece and 20 illustration works that would also feature other historical stories across Nigeria.
ASIRI Magazine is a digital repository with the concern of preserving and promoting the cultural heritage and history of Nigeria. This is its first exhibition exploring the incidents that led to the invasion with illustration arts and Installation.
“The main objective behind this Exhibition Project is to create mediums for dialogue and discussion around our history in Nigeria,” said the statement.