Born 1991 in Lagos, Nigeria, Lagos-based multimedia artist Seidougha Linus Eyimiegha (Mr. Danfo) recounts influences from his childhood that reflect in his artistic practice today. Of his practice, he said, “I used to mimic the conductors I see at Ajangbadi bus stop who usually yelled at the top of their voices ‘Okoko, Iyana-Iba, Volks’. In that dramatic period of my life, I would hold anything within arm’s length to demonstrate my conductor role since I could not hold a real Danfo. Little did I know that 20 years after, I would still express the influence of Danfo in my art practice.’’
Mr. Danfo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Delta State University, where he specialized in painting. His work engages local art forms, contemporary designs, and popular culture. He re-enacts stories from all of these in his paintings, utilizing divergent colours and geometric shapes in minimalist style, or through graphic designs and installations.
His practice in the past five years is a reflection of how Lagos has played an influential role in his thinking and process as an artist. His work is inspired by his everyday Lagos struggles. Through his practice, he has been replicating and redefining various aspects of his interaction with Lagos. He derives his ideas from Danfo geometric symbols, images, texts, as well as from contemporary language in Lagos, and his subject matter has a sturdy tie to the issues of lower-class Lagosians who primarily get around with the Lagos Danfo.
Mr. Danfo’s pieces have been included in several publications and private collections. His most recent exhibition was in January, 2023 at Rele Gallery, Lagos. He exhibited at the Johannesburg Fair with Bubblegum Gallery in September, 2022. He had his first solo exhibition titled “Portraits of Public Figures in Lagos” at Alliance Française de Lagos in April, 2022. In November 2021, he participated in Elixir (ScAN group exhibition) at the National Museum, Lagos where he exhibited his installation “Sapele Spirit”. In September 2021, he exhibited at the Lagos Comic Con and his works were included in an International exhibition at Museo De Ciudad De Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. He participated at Floor One 9 Exhibition by Art Twenty One, Lagos from February to September 2020, and was also part of the Ofala Festival Art Exhibition at Onitsha in October, 2019.