The Lagos Launch of Weaving Stories: A Creative Community Event

by Joana Chemel

I'm still riding the high from the Lagos launch of Weaving Stories on Saturday, 15th November 2025. There's a magnetic energy in Lagos that is loud, unpredictable, creative, and honest; the perfect environment for a project like this to thrive. An energy you can’t quite prepare for but always feel. Stepping into MADhouse by Tikera, the venue, felt like plugging into that familiar, powerful Lagos pulse.

The Perfect Space and Purpose

MADhouse by Tikera was more than just a venue; it was a creative haven that held space for authentic stories. Its warm, textured, industrial-creative aesthetic welcomed a diverse crowd: artists, photographers, cultural workers, tech innovators, and visual storytelling enthusiasts, all united by a shared curiosity.
This event was particularly significant because Lagos is the beating heart of African creativity, and we were honouring one of its own: Ayorinde Ogundele, PICHA Grant winner and resident photographer. His powerful work, which documented everyday Lagos life (DANFO: A Stubborn Nigerian Relic), was a vital part of the book's narrative.
We weren't just launching a book; we were bringing home a story and placing it into the hands of the very community that inspired it. For me, as a co-writer, seeing the project through the eyes of the Lagos community; people whose lived realities mirror the pages was grounding, personal, and affirmed the necessity of the work.

A Community for Creatives

The launch felt like a powerful creative convening, fueling craft, enterprise, and community. It was a visual truth anchored by Ayorinde Ogundele's stunning photography. Working with him was a masterclass. A perfectionist perfecting his own craft in his own way. Ayorinde doesn't just take pictures; he extracts the soul from a scene; the resilience in a face, the vibrant chaos of a crowded street, the quiet dignity of a moment often overlooked. This book is a testament to his contribution to PICHA's mission: to offer the global media and business landscape authentic, purposeful imagery of Africa, created by Africans.
Before the official program, the community was already engaging with the book, dialoguing on the authentic representation of the Danfo, and confirming that this is exactly the community PICHA was built to serve: one that supports creatives in maintaining agency over their work and the creative value chain.

Key Discussions: Ownership and Representation

I stepped into MADhouse that evening wearing multiple hats: collaborator, storyteller,
moderator, celebrator. And fully, proudly, part of the PICHA community.

In my role as moderator for the Creative Panel, I engaged with key players from the Wikimedia Nigeria, documentary, and filmmaking industries. The discussion was both relevant and urgent, focusing on the tools that empower creators to share their work without losing control. We debated the merits of open-source platforms like Creative Commons versus paid licensing agencies such as PICHA, exploring the central question: Who gets to tell the African story, how, and who gets to access it?

The panel dived into crucial themes:

- The politics of representation in stock photography.
- The importance of culturally accurate imagery.
- Open knowledge and its implications for African creators.
- Ethical licensing and creative ownership.
- The future of Accessible storytelling for the continent.

Ayorinde Ogundele: The Artist's With An Honest Truthful Lens

The absolute highlight was the one-on-one session with Ayorinde. Hearing him speak about his process; the hours spent waiting for the right moment, the hustle of working as a creative with a camera in Nigeria, the trust he builds with subjects, and balancing his creative passion with his Civil Engineering studies, was profoundly humbling. He spoke with complete sincerity, sharing rather than performing.
We discussed the poetic art of photographing Lagos chaos, the quiet moments behind his most striking images, trusting one's instincts, and how the PICHA Grant allowed him to go deeper into his work. Ayorinde has a rare ability to articulate his process without romanticising it. He explained how his community, upbringing, and the very unpredictability of Lagos traffic shape his artistry. His commitment extends beyond the book, as he also recaptured the Danfo experience in a game he designed, called Danfo Palava. I asked him about the weight of being a visual storyteller in a city as intense as Lagos. He addressed the intentionality needed to move beyond common tropes of poverty, hustle, and even exoticism. He focused on:

- His creative process and the Lagos heartbeat that shapes his work.
- The instinctive decisions behind his portraits.
- The discipline required to capture moments that feel both ordinary and extraordinary.
- His positive experience as a PICHA Grant winner and resident photographer.

His commitment to showcasing the dignity, hard work, and sheer life of Lagos is what makes his contribution to Weaving Stories so essential.

The True Success: Connections and Community

The true success of the launch wasn't measured in book sales, but in the connections forged among storytellers, tech innovators, fellow artists, and curious Lagosians who champion ownership and authenticity. We didn't just launch a book; we solidified a community dedicated to rewriting the visual narrative.

Watching guests interact with Weaving Stories, lingering on familiar images, pointing out scenes that reminded them of home, community, and the everyday magic of commuting was my favorite moment. It was a powerful affirmation of why the project exists: to centre African stories through African eyes and give them an honoured home.
As Weaving Stories continues its journey, the Lagos event will remain with me. The laughter, the honesty, the warmth, and the creative fire confirmed that what we are building is a living, breathing community. For me, the night was a reminder of my core purpose: to help build platforms where African creators can be seen, heard, celebrated, supported, and sustained.

The Lagos event was a moment and a movement; a weaving of creatives, cultures, and
intentions. It reaffirmed why creative access and representation matter: because they affect real people, real livelihoods, and real legacies.
To everyone who joined us at MADhouse by Tikera, thank you for showing up. This is how stories grow. Thank you for listening, challenging us, and seeing us. Thank you for reminding me why PICHA exists: to hold space for African creators, amplify our stories, and challenge the narratives that flatten us. We own it, we tell it, we document it.

Credit Images:
Odakpo Emeka
Instagram: @emez_ninetyeight