By Amina Diallo
At Design Week Lagos 2025, seven visionary designers transformed everyday objects into powerful cultural narratives. On a warm Wednesday evening, guests filled the minimalist halls of Nahous in Victoria Island, Lagos, where furniture, tableware, rugs, and light fixtures became vessels of storytelling. Each piece reflected the evolving language of African design — artisanal, deeply narrative, and seamlessly integrated into contemporary aesthetics.
“Design Week Lagos is more than just a festival, it’s an ecosystem,” said founder Titi Ogufere. “It’s a movement that brings together everyone who makes up the design value chain: the educators, the architects, the developers, the designers, and the makers.”
Highlights from DWL 2025
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Ike Stools by Acacia Studios Inspired by the acorn and kolanut, Tomike Layi-Babtunde’s stools blend nostalgia, local materials, and playful design. Wrapped in multicolored textiles, they spark curiosity and conversation.
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Akuko (Story) by Chibuzo Emordi A book holder crafted from wood and hand-knotted ropes, Akuko embodies memory spaces in Nigerian homes — from photo albums to stacks of newspapers — preserving stories across generations.
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Bantu by Joan Eric Udorie A layered wooden side table that doubles as an ornamental piece, Bantu symbolizes eternal energy flow, balancing tension and harmony in its hovering silhouette.
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Teriba Chair by Richard Aina Minimalist and skeletal, the Teriba chair strips seating to its primal form, challenging traditional notions of furniture while retaining strength and perspective.
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Eyo Lamp by Ezekiel Osunala Mimicking the billowing garments of Lagos’ iconic Eyo masquerade, Osunala’s lamp captures motion and cultural symbolism with wave-like incisions and a miniature hat.
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Beacon of Thoughts by Abduljaleel Sodangi Repurposed furniture carved with words and paired with a glowing pyramid lantern, this piece becomes a facilitator of conversations and ideas.
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Ijoko Ore by Abiola Diana Makinde Dedicated to sisterhood, this caramel-toned chair is sturdy yet coordinated, its jutting ends and winged sides embodying collective strength and tenderness.
