Contrary to the conventional idea of photo exhibitions in fancy Galleria and Museums, Nigerian photographer and environmentalist Mayowa Adebote’s recent solo photo exhibition, The Current, turned the spotlight on climate adaptation in Akodo-Ise, a coastal community in Lagos State.
The two-day exhibition on April 4 and 5, 2025, featured breathtaking images that defined the impact of climate change in ways that words wouldn’t. The pictures were displayed in the corridor and rooms of what was once the palace of the community’s traditional ruler – the Baálè. Now, the palace stands as a roofless crumbling carcass: half of it already lost to the current of the Atlantic Ocean.
At some point, the waves of the sea silenced the conversation during the exhibition, allowing people to soak in each pixel, from striking drone shots of buildings nearly submerged by water in a riverine community, to intimate close-ups capturing the expressions and stories of those grappling with loss.
The unpleasantness of exhuming graves and relocating what was left from being swallowed by the sea to honour their loved ones even in death; the pain of going fishing and returning with nearly nothing; the anguish of seeing one’s ancestral home gradually swallowed by an unrelenting water body; and the uncertainty of tomorrow. Each photograph carried with it mixed tales of pain, resilience, and a fading heritage.
It was almost magical to witness nearly 200 people travel hundreds of miles to this remote, often overlooked community — from young and curious University student groups, the researchers hope to find answers or inspiration, down to elders who had heard but never seen first-hand this way in which climate change impacts the world around them.
From engaging panel sessions to paint-and-sip activities, photography workshops, quiz games, music, dance, and deep reflections about the photos exhibited, the event was a rich blend of education, entertainment, and activism. It became a total experience – one that combined memory-making with meaningful contributions to a pressing cause and even sparked hopes for the community members.
Being Mayowa’s first solo exhibition, The Current will remain a deeply memorable moment for me and many others. It has birthed ideas and initiatives that can catalyse more youth involvement in the climate space. I hope that this will inspire many more young people across the world to explore more creative means to take climate action.
By ‘Seyifunmi Adebote (seyi@climatetalkpodcast.com), Lagos, Nigeria. April 2025