Reliving a Year of Creative Humanism
As Nigeria’s leading platform for artistic expression, the Life in My City Art Festival (LIMCAF) has been igniting creativity, fostering young talent, and redefining the country’s visual arts landscape for over two decades. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke writes
A midst the year’s flurry of local art events, the Life in My City Art Festival—more often known by its acronym, LIMCAF—stands out as a paragon of uniqueness. With its, albeit unofficial, tongue-in-cheek reputation as the ultimate matchmaker, LIMCAF has been pairing creativity with opportunity and young artists with their dreams since its inception. This year’s edition, themed “Humanism,” was no exception, as 105 talented young artists, cherry-picked from an impressive 750 entries nationwide, were given the chance to unlock their full creative potential.
The annual youth-focused fiesta, conceived and positioned to inspire, educate, and make art accessible to a wider audience, has also hosted interactive workshops and outreach programmes for school children. Additionally, it has provided platforms to female artists and artists with disabilities, underscoring its commitment to inclusivity.
So, it’s in the light of its impressive track record that its recent call for Christmas donations to support struggling artists does not seem out of place. This endeavour aligns seamlessly with its future plans, which aim to expand its initiatives, reach more communities, and spread the joy of art far and wide.
Perhaps the crowning jewel of LIMCAF’s recent annual endeavours is when it pulls out all the stops, courtesy of the legendary artist El Anatsui’s generosity, to sponsor 12 of its top-winning artists to Africa’s most prestigious art event—the Dakar Art Biennale, fondly known as Dak’Art. As the 12 artists descended upon Enugu on Saturday, November 2, the air was electric with anticipation, their creative energies simmering like a witch’s brew. This talented troupe was comprised of the best adjudged talents of the recent Life in My City Art Festival competitions—the top six winners from both the 2022 and 2023 editions.
In the coal city, they eagerly anticipated the adventure of a lifetime: a sponsored trip to Dakar, Senegal, where they would exhibit their award-winning artworks at the 15th edition of the Biennale of Contemporary African Art in Dakar, titled “The Wake: L’Éveil, Le Sillage, Xàll wi,”—an event that, though initially would have been held in May, was postponed for six months due to political turmoil. As a warm sendoff, they were treated to a glamorous reception, courtesy of Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame (Barrister) Ugochi Madueke, at the upscale Nike Lake Resort Hotel on the evening of Tuesday, November 5. For the artists, it was a night of bonding and camaraderie—a truly unforgettable experience!
Dakar’s airport’s arrivals gate welcomed the 12 artists in the early hours of November 7, their eyes bleary from the long-haul flight from Enugu, but their spirits soaring. Mor Faye, their Senegalese host, received them like a guardian angel, warm smiles and firm handshakes dispelling the remnants of fatigue. With only 24 hours to set up their exhibition space, the team embarked on a heart-stopping, passion-driven mission. Brushes danced on the walls of an open-air venue at the Dakar Artists’ Village as they worked tirelessly to spruce up the exhibition space. The result? An exhibition that became the cynosure of all eyes. But this was merely the opening salvo.
Over the next few days, the team explored Dakar’s vibrant art scene with unbridled enthusiasm, marvelling at the Dak’Art’s main exhibition, their minds blown by the sheer creativity on display. A visit to the poignant “Door of No Return” at Gorée Island brought a sombre moment of reflection, the weight of history settling heavy on their shoulders. Next, they were at the Trans Atlantique 1 Conference and later visited the Soleil Gallery in Yoff, where they beamed with pride as they saw works by Nigerian artists, including two LIMCAF alumni, showcased on the international stage. It was a resounding endorsement of the LIMCAF Dakar exposure, a moment that would stay etched in their memories for a long time. For these 12 artists, there was no turning back. They had caught the Dak’Art bug, and their lives would never be the same again.
About a week earlier, the zonal winners of LIMCAF had gathered at the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu’s International Conference Centre, for the event’s highly anticipated annual awards and gala night. The theme of the 2024 edition, “Humanism,” had inspired a plethora of thought-provoking artworks, but only a select few could take home the coveted prizes. Hence, that Saturday, October 26, evening, the now-famous venue played host to the glamorous event, where the winners were announced amidst great fanfare. Paul Chibuike Emenike, the Jos zone’s finest, stole the show with his breathtaking masterpiece, “The Eighth Wonder,” earning him a cool N1,000,000 as the overall winner. The evening’s other big winners—Olayemi Sunday Opeyemi, Victor Olaoluwa Ogundeji, Teniola Oyefoso Ayomide, and Emmanuel Eweje—each took home a handsome N500,000, beaming with pride and clutching their well-deserved cheques.
Therefore, wrapping up the year on a high note, the art festival’s organisers have good reasons to look forward to a promising 2025. After all, this annual youth-focused art extravaganza has been on a dizzying upward trajectory, defying gravity and silencing sceptics. As Nigeria’s longest-running visual arts competition, LIMCAF has consistently pushed the boundaries, refusing to be daunted by the inconsistent corporate support. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, it has ever again adapted, evolved, and thrived, cementing its reputation as a beacon of artistic excellence.
