Peter D. Abayom, a cultural curator and artist with a community-oriented practice, explores
the intersection of music, design and art as well as its impact on societies. This focus gave life to the Eran Jije project. The project, steeped in innovation, manifests itself through diverse mediums and educational activities.
Eran Jije, largely meaning “to feast”, features collaborations with a host of artists and organisations, and champions the community playing their part in propelling the circular economy in Lagos, Nigeria. Self-described as a dignitary of the lagoon-side town of Bariga, Peter engages with his community, who have a long history of breathing new life into what some would discard and describe as waste. Textiles, plastics, and wooden planks are used in innovative ways for building materials, fashion and clothing, electronics, and musical instruments, among others. Peter seeks to keep this societal and communal practice alive and further propagate this lifestyle not just in Lagos but the world at large.
The most recent initiative and partnership of the Eran Jije project saw Peter connect through G.A.S. Foundation and collaborate with Rafael Kouto, a fashion designer from Switzerland, to create the project “Circular Heroes” – the aim of which was to rekindle community. The project held two different sessions: one in his local constituency of Bariga with the youth of the area, and the other with the creative community from Lagos at G.A.S. Foundation.
The outcomes of the sessions go beyond the now and the tangible for Peter – it is the lasting impact the project would have on the psych and sensitising participants on waste and environmental care. The hope is that this manifests itself in sustainable practices as well as a better future for those from the community. Nonetheless, the project does deal with physical material and what came out of them were four major works, the amalgamation of efforts by local artisans and other participants, engaging artists and non-artists to bridge the gap between worlds. Two of the outcomes were photographed through the lens of the talented Ruby Okoro as a way to propagate sustainable practices and fashion concepts within the mainstream fashion ecosystem and art scene in Lagos.
As life would have it, this now goes beyond the coastal city of Lagos, all the way to Milan, Italy. The photographs were submitted for PhotoVogue, the photography festival by Vogue magazine, with the ninth edition in March 2025. PhotoVogue engages with global communities of artists, thought leaders and organisations advocating for environmental stewardship and sustainability, a platform which perfectly aligns with Peter’s ethos and mission. The festival champions themes that are both ethically and aesthetically significant. This year’s edition, themed “The Tree of Life: A Love Letter to Nature”, celebrated the interconnectedness of the human animal and the ecosystem. Boasting a programme of value and volume, it involved exhibitions, panels, presentations, digital dialogue and Reflection.
When asked about his next project, Peter said, “The project is a long-term vision. We believe that when we start the change now, we can reshape the future for ourselves and most especially for the younger generation to enjoy and benefit from those actions. We also seek to have the younger generation themselves be the change and create the environment they want for the future. This goes beyond performances. The vision is to transform Bariga, transform Lagos, transform the world.”
This article was originally published in Umuala Journal here: https://medium.com/umuala-journal/from-local-to-global-peter-d-abayomis-journey-to-photovogue-4ee2e8234765