Bolaji Alonge
| Bolaji Alonge | |
|---|---|
| File:Bolaji Alonge portrait.jpgBolaji Alonge portrait.jpg | |
| Born | September 18, 1977 Lagos, Nigeria |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Nigerian |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | Photography |
| 🌐 Website | www |
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Bolaji Alonge (born in 1977 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian journalist, artist, photographer and actor from Lagos, Nigeria. Also known as Eyes of a Lagos Boy, with two decades of experience in documenting history, always looking for beauty where it is least expected.
Bolaji Alonge's visual language speaks of the wonders of nature and human exchange and searches for historical continuity in a world that is fractured.
His lens exposes contrast and conflict, while offering an alternative vision of oneness, order in chaos. He is also a globetrotter who has travelled around the world during the last decade documenting exotic culture and history.[1]
Personal life
Bolaji Alonge was born in 1977. His father passed on his passion for music and photography to Bolaji, who spent time with him taking and developing images as a child. He studied Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, while exploring his acting skills at the Theatre 15 UNILAG. Ever since he has acted in a range of theatre, television and movie projects.[2] On 24 November 2018, Bolaji married his Belgian fiancé Sandra Vermuyten in a civil ceremony at the Registry of Victoria Island, Lagos.
Work
He shows his beloved Lagos from unexpected angles, a city that inspires and captivates imagination, but also pulls people into a vortex of energy and constant challenges. Images of everyday life in Nigeria carry deep social messages that expose fragility and audacity. Bolaji makes the viewer reconsider what we have seen with our own eyes, through the Eyes of a Lagos Boy.
Alonge's experience and his travels made him a great storyteller who loves to share his photography and the deeper meaning of the stunning images he presents.
| “ | I encourage young Africans to take up the camera and document history – those memories that make up the fabric of existence. To move forward we have to know where we come from. I do it by searching for unique shots, that become integrated in the mood boards of our lives.[3] | ” |
In May 2017, Bolaji organized his "Eyes of a Lagos Boy" photo exhibition at Freedom Park in Lagos. His second solo exhibition "Urban Culture – Historical Continuity" was held at One Draw Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos in November 2018. In February 2019, Bolaji showcased his work at Baza Studio in New York. A third solo exhibition, "Black & White" was held at Quintessence, Lagos in July 2019. He presented "Afrobeat: The Legacy” at Freedom Park in Lagos during Felabration 2019, dedicated to Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, Fela Kuti's eldest son and strongest proponent of Afrobeat.
Together with 7 other photographers, Bolaji presented "Nigeria Trending" at the Lagos Fringe Festival (17-22 November 2020), covering the #EndSARS protest. In February 2021, he showcased "Street Flowers of Lagos" at Temple Muse, a high-end concept store in Lagos.
Greener Pastures, dedicated to riverine communities in Lagos, was first held at Didi Museum, Lagos to critical acclaim in September 2021, as well as part of the Lagos Fringe Festival in November 2021. Proceeds of sales have contributed to buying books for school children in Epe.
In September 2022, a multimedia exhibition titled "Iconic Lagos" was held at the Didi Museum. It was dedicated to the largest city in West Africa to honor its inhabitants and celebrate everyday life in Lagos while exploring what makes the city unique. It featured photography by Bolaji Alonge, mixed-media images by Jason Ogbazi and Alonge, and artworks by other artists. In a bid to support emerging talents, a call for submissions was published; about 400 entries were received, and 20 artworks were selected and presented at the exhibition.
Bolaji also works on social and documentary projects, such as a campaign on the human right to water, a pilot study on Lagos Coastal Health that documented the health challenges of more than 145 communities inhabiting the 200 km (120 mi) stretch of Lagos lagoon and "Silent Majority" a creative art/photography workshop for street orphans, the socially deprived or displaced and teenagers in juvenile detention or correctional facilities. He is a passionate deep sea-diver and activist for ecological justice.
Since 2016, his website www.eyesofalagosboy.com has developed from a personal blog to a news portal with a focus on culture and lifestyle, from the African perspective. Bolaji Alonge joined Music in Africa as the Regional Editor for West Africa in August 2019. Music In Africa is a resource for information and exchange in and for the African music sector. From March 2020, he is fully dedicated to the Eyes of a Lagos Boy project.
Exhibitions
- 2022 - Iconic Lagos multi-media exhibition, Didi Museum, Lagos, Nigeria
- 2022 - Greener Pastures documentary presentation, IREP Documentary Festival, Lagos, Nigeria
- 2021 - Greener Pastures documentary presentation, ICAB Festival, Lagos, Nigeria
- 2021 - Greener Pastures multi-media exhibition, Fringe Festival, Freedom Park, Lagos, Nigeria
- 2021 - Greener Pastures multi-media exhibition, Didi Museum, Lagos, Nigeria
- 2021 - Street Flowers of Lagos, Showcase, Temple Muse, Lagos, Nigeria
- 2020 – Nigeria Trending, Collaborative Photo Exhibition, Lagos Fringe, Freedom Park, Lagos, Nigeria
- 2019 – Afrobeat: The Legacy, Freedom Park, Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
- 2019 – Eyes of a Lagos Boy, Baza Studio, New York, United States.
- 2019 – Black & White, Quintessence, Lagos, Nigeria.
- 2018 – Urban Culture – Historical Continuity, One Draw Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
- 2017 – Eyes of a Lagos Boy, Freedom Park, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
Acting
Alonge started acting during his studies at UNILAG at Theatre 15, to continue working on eight different television series shown on Nigerian and African channels, such as DSTV, STV, AIT, LTV, TVC, Galaxy and Africa Magic. "Oga Landlord", "Being Farouk" and "My Flatmates" continue to be produced to date with regular appearances by Bolaji.
Television series as shown on Nigerian and African channels, such as DSTV, STV, AIT, LTV, TVC, Galaxy, Africa magic
- 2006 to date - FLATMATES
- 2006 - 2009 - HALF SISTERS
- 2007 - 2010 - FOOTPRINTS
- 2008 - CIRCLE OF THREE
- 2009 - 2014 - INLAWS
- 2010 - TINSEL
- 2011 to date - OGA LANDLORD
- 2018 to date - BEING FAROUK
Theatre, Television and filmography
- 1998 - UNILAG Main Auditorium, Jambitoast
- 1998 - MUSON CENTER, Who is afraid of Wole Soyinka
- 2002 - MUSON CENTER, This time tomorrow
- 2003 - MUSON CENTER, Twins
- 2006 - MUSON CENTER, The Anatomy of a Woman
Filmography
- 2012 - Blood in the Lagoon
- 2005 - Two Black Birds
Press
- [1] (Art exhibition themed ‘Iconic Lagos’ opens at Didi Museum, The Cable)
- [2] (Heralding Iconic Lagos at Didi Museum, This Day)
- [3] (Iconic Lagos opens at Didi Museum this September, Business Day)
- [4] (ICONIC LAGOS: Bolaji Alonge to exhibit art project at Didi Museum in September, Flashpoint)
- [5] (‘Eyes of a Lagos Boy’ set to champion Iconic Lagos at Didi museum in September, Allure Vanguard)
- [6] (When photographers stormed Lagos, The nation)
- [7] (Eyes of a Lagos Boy: Nigerian Artist Bolaji Alonge Set to Host Powerful Exhibition Tagged 'Iconic Lagos', Legit.ng)
- [8] (Iconic Lagos Exhibition by Eyes of a Lagos Boy, TV360)
- [9] (Bolaji Alonge celebrates his home city with iconic Lagos exhibition, The cable)
- [10] (Iconic Lagos opens with 23 artist in multimedia exhibition, Naija Times)
- [11] (Bolaji Alonge presents Greener Pastures on TVC Wake Up Nigeria, TVC)
- [12] (Greener Pastures: An Exhibition On The Struggle Of Lagos Rural Dwellers, TVC News)
- [13] (Greener Pastures: Changing the narratives of Epe coastal communities, Business Day)
- [14] (Bolaji Alonge, Sola Otori showcase Greener Pastures, NEWS247Nigeria)
- [15] (The Greener Pastures In Our Backyard
, The Will)
- [16] (Bolaji Alonge’s Greener Pastures, A Focus On Not-So-Prosperous Lagos, Independent)
- [17] (Bolaji Alonge, Sola Otori showcase Greener Pastures, the Sun)
- [18] (Bolaji Alonge Reveals Greener Pastures In Coastal Lagos, New Telegraph)
- [19] (#BNRSVP Events this Weekend, Bella Naija)
- [20] (Water Hyacinth: A Look At Environmental Concerns, Challenges, Green Angle)
- Started As A Hobby, I Just Started Taking Pictures Of Things I Loved.- Bolaji Alonge (Wake Up Nigeria, February 2020)
- [21] (The Leadership, April 2020)
- Art Review: Contemporary Photographer Bolaji Alonge Captures Lagos (Channels TV, 2019)
- Alonge to stage photo exhibition ‘Eyes of a Lagos Boy’ at Felabration. (Stationmag.com, 2019).
- BOLAJI ALONGE Holds Felabration Photo Exhibition. (ThisDayLive.com, 2019).
- ‘Eyes of a Lagos Boy’: Alonge to stage photo exhibition at Felabration. (Lifestyle.thecable.ng, 2019).
- ‘Eyes of a Lagos Boy’: Alonge to exhibit new photographic collections June 23. (Lifestyle.thecable.ng, 2019).
- Bolaji Alonge's "Through The Eyes Of A Lagos Boy" Exhibition. (Channels Television, 2019).
- For Bolaji Alonge, Beauty is in the Lens of the Beholder. (ThisDayLive.com, 2018).
- Bolaji Alonge’s photographic exhibition takes us through Urban Culture and Historical Continuity. (VanguardNgr.com, 2018).
- Alonge’s passionate lens, exciting capture. (Arts & Culture Place, 2018).
- Documenting 'Urban Culture...' through Alonge's travelogue-lens. (African Arts with Taj, 2018).
- Art Display By Bolaji Alonge | Wake Up Nigeria. (TVC, 2018).
- For Bolaji Alonge, Beauty is in the Lens of the Beholder. (TheWorldNews.net, 2018).
- Telling stories through photography. (TheNationOnlineNg.net, 2018).
- Bolaji Alonge’s photographic exhibition takes us through Urban Culture and Historical Continuity. (VanguardNgr.com, 2018).
- ‘Eyes of a Lagos Boy’: Alonge to hold photo exhibition at Freedom Park. (Lifestyle.thecable.ng, 2017).
- Eyes of a Lagos Boy: Bolaji Alonge to host photo exhibition at Freedom Park. (YNaija.com, 2017).
- Exhibition sets to showcase the exquisite beauty of Nigeria to the world via lenses. (Pulse.ng, 2017).
- Exploring the World through Bolaji Alonge's Camera Lens. (ThisDayLive.com, 2017).
References
- ↑ "'Eyes of a Lagos Boy': Alonge to hold photo exhibition at Freedom Park". TheCable Lifestyle. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ↑ Awefirm ARL (13 December 2017), Bolaji Alonge TVC Interview (Let's Document History), retrieved 6 October 2018
- ↑ Awefirm ARL (13 December 2017), Bolaji Alonge TVC Interview (Let's Document History), retrieved 6 October 2018
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