BOBO: Olaolu Slawn’s Homecoming in Lagos

British-Nigerian artist Olaolu Slawn debuted his first official exhibition in his native land, Lagos, Nigeria, with BOBO, curated by Teni Zaccheaus (TEEZEE) at Nahous Gallery, Federal Palace Hotel, on December 22, 2025.

The exhibition, which marks Slawn’s largest presentation in Nigeria to date, will run through February 1, 2026.

BOBO is a homecoming in every sense. Titled after Slawn’s native name, the exhibition reflects the return of an artist who has created, performed, and provoked across continents doing things his own way while remaining deeply rooted in his origins. Bringing together a selection of new works, the show revisits the soil, rhythm, and irreverent humour that shaped who he is. This is a gathering of fragments from a life lived publicly, both online and offline, filtered through global recognition and an ever-expanding creative identity.

The opening night drew artists, curators, collectors, musicians, skaters, writers, and long-time admirers of Slawn’s practice. It was a full-circle moment, offering many the chance to finally meet the artist in Lagos. In the lead-up to the exhibition, Slawn also selected ten local artists to collaborate with during his stay, reinforcing the exhibition’s spirit of exchange and community.

Following a year that saw Slawn collaborate with the Emirates FA Cup, Artifax, Rolex, Nike, Formula 1, Peak Mood Drink, and more, with further projects expected in 2026, BOBO signals another defining chapter in his career.

According to Richard Vedelago, founder of Nahous, “BOBO embodies that spirit. It’s raw, reflective, and deeply rooted in the place that shaped Slawn long before the global spotlight.”

By situating BOBO within the historically resonant halls of Nahous, the exhibition reinforces the institution’s mission to host artistic voices that challenge and expand the cultural landscape. For Slawn, it marks a pivotal moment, a return, a grounding, and a reclaiming of the name and place where it all began.