Lagos Photo Festival 2025: Incarceration—Interrogating Captivity Through The Lens

Chakam: The Power of a Single Frame

Chakam. The sharp snap of a camera shutter captures a moment in time—light, colour, and emotion sealed into a single frame, telling a story more than a thousand words. In that split second, memories are preserved and perception is called into question.

This is the power Lagos Photo Festival 2025 brings to the stage, visual storytelling that does more than capture memories; it challenges stereotypes, reframing the way we see the world.

LagosPhoto’s Vision & Origins

Now stepping into its first-ever biennial edition, LagosPhoto is expanding its horizon for deeper exploration. Founded in 2010 by the African Artists’ Foundation under the vision of curator Azu Nwagbogu, the festival has become a landmark in African photography. It is an annual gathering of local and international talent dedicated to telling authentic stories from Africa and beyond through the lens of a camera.

“In a world where African narratives have too often been shaped by external perspectives, photography allows African artists to present their own visions and realities,” says Nwagbogu

Azu Nwagbogu (2024). Photo: Pardis Faqiri. Courtesy Azu Nwagbogu / Ocula.

Incarceration; What It Means

This year’s edition, running from October 25, 2025, to November 29, 2025, revolves around the theme Incarceration. While the word might immediately bring to mind prison walls and locked doors, LagosPhoto is taking a broader lens. Speaking to Ocula Magazine about the theme, Azu Nwagbogu says, “Incarceration goes beyond physical imprisonment to include intellectual, psychological, and societal forms of captivity. The theme challenges artists to address not only visible forms of confinement but also the invisible forces limiting freedom—be it through outdated narratives, borders, or even the digital panopticon of social media.”

Biennial Shift: Time for Depth

Another exciting shift is the introduction of the biennial format itself. Lagos Photo Festival 2025 gives artists and curators more time to reflect, research, and develop ideas. In an article published by BusinessDay, the festival team noted that the transition to a biennale allows extended time for artists and curators to engage more deeply with the festival’s themes, ensuring a richer and more impactful artistic experience.

Beyond the Gallery: Public Works & Programming

As always, the festival won’t be limited to gallery walls. There will be outdoor installations, workshops, artist talks, and community-focused projects. These elements have become LagosPhoto’s signature, turning the city itself into a living exhibition.

Exhibition view: Samuel Fosso, BLACK POPE, LagosPhoto Festival (25 Nov–15 Dec 2017). Photo: Courtesy LagosPhoto Festival / Ocula.

Investing in Emerging Photographers

LagosPhoto also maintains a commitment to nurturing emerging talent. Through open calls, mentorship, and collaborative workshops, young photographers are given the chance to develop work that can stand alongside established names. It’s an investment not just in the art of photography, but in the next generation of visual storytellers who will continue challenging stereotypes and redefining narratives long after the festival ends.