Google unveils ‘Eko for show’ to showcase Lagos’ creative industry

Eko for Show, an initiative to showcase and celebrate Lagos has been launched by Google Arts & Culture, putting Nigeria’s most cosmopolitan and one of the world’s most vibrant cities for youth, creativity and technology in the spotlight.

The initiative is profiling over 100 creatives across the spectrum of music, art, photography, fashion, musicals, literature and food. The online exhibition will shine a light on the city’s thriving creative communities and aims to inspire the next generation of creatives, according to a statement by Google.

In partnership with seven of Lagos’ top cultural institutions, the Eko for Show online exhibition will enable audiences to virtually “meet” some of the city’s music makers, visual artists, trendsetters, storytellers and foodies. The seven cultural institutions include the African Artists Foundation, Homecoming, Lagos Fashion Week, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Rele Arts Foundation, Terra Kulture and the Centenary Project. The partners have shared over 8000 photographs, 80 online stories, 3 Street View experiences and 175 videos, which is presented in one unified online experience.

Eko for Show can be explored via g.co/ekoforshow and by downloading the free Google Arts & Culture app. Highlights include essays by ten women writers who share their personal reflections on Lagos, including Mọlará Wood and Lọlá Shónẹ́yìn.

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“Google Arts & Culture’s mission is to preserve and promote the world’s art and culture online to everyone, anywhere in the world. With Eko for Show, we celebrate the creative industry of Lagos and share the buzz, even if virtually, through the works and stories of its incredible youth and culture,” said Amit Sood, Director, Google Arts & Culture.

Lagos is one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities and a major financial hub on the continent, boasting the fourth-highest GDP. In the past, it has garnered international attention for being a hub for creativity, thanks to the more than 25 million people who comprise this community of talent and excellence.

“The coronavirus regrettably resulted in the cancellation of many creative events in Lagos State, which is why I am so excited about the Eko for Show project, a continuation of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation’s partnership with Google Arts & Culture. It highlights the impressive body of creative talent to which Lagos is home, spreading the news across the world,” said Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State.

Folorunsho Coker, director-general of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation said the agency’s partnership with Google Arts & Culture has a crucial role to play in ensuring it achieves its mission of accelerating growth of domestic tourism and fostering economic development in Nigeria.