In March 2026, Eyes of Lagos Boy began a new and unexpected chapter — a journey to Brazil that quickly became much more than travel. It was an immersion into a country that feels at once distant and deeply familiar.
Brazil is home to the largest population of Afro-descendants outside Africa — over half of its people. In cities like Salvador da Bahia and Recife, this presence is not just demographic; it defines culture, identity, and daily life. Salvador, often described as the largest African city outside the continent, carries this history visibly — in its rhythms, its spirituality, its language, food and its people.
What we encountered was not just difference, but recognition. Across three weeks — from São Paulo to Salvador and Rio de Janeiro — this journey became a process of rediscovery: of shared histories across the Atlantic, of cultural continuities shaped by Yoruba traditions and the legacy of movement, resistance, and creativity.
This was not a holiday. It was a research journey – a deliberate exploration of the deeper connections between Nigeria and Brazil — and a first step toward imagining how these connections can be transformed into meaningful collaboration, cultural exchange, and new opportunities, particularly for young people and the creative economy. At the same time, it was something more personal. A reminder of how much there is still to learn, and how powerful it is to encounter people and places that reflect parts of your own story back to you — in unexpected ways.
While we are now developing a broader concept for future collaboration, we want to begin by sharing what we experienced: the images, the conversations, the moments that stayed with us. This marks the beginning of a new series: Stories from Brazil. This is the first edition.
If this journey was about understanding Brazil beyond the surface, then it felt important to begin this series with a conversation rooted in history, identity, and collective struggle. While this was not our first meeting in Brazil, we chose to start here — out of respect for the depth, relevance, and urgency of the work led by CONEN – the National Coordination of Black Organizations of Brazil. The meeting took place at the Vila Sul Goethe-Institut Salvador, where we were resident — a space that reflects the spirit of the exchange itself: international, cultural, and grounded in dialogue.
We had the privilege of engaging with Gilberto Leal, leader of CONEN, alongside Edenice Santana, founder of Niger Okan and member of CONEN Mulher, Erilza Galvão, and a powerful youth delegation including Brenda Oliveira, leader of JCONEN, and Gabriela Queiroz.
From the outset, the conversation was direct and grounded. As Gilberto underlined, the work of CONEN remains deeply political. Brazil has made important progress in adopting policies on racial equality — but discrimination has not disappeared. The gap between policy and lived reality remains a central challenge.
This reality is particularly visible for young people. Brenda Oliveira and Gabriela Queiroz spoke candidly about the barriers many disadvantaged youth still face in accessing education. Opportunities exist — but they are not equally distributed, and too many young people remain excluded from systems that should support them.
Edenice Santana brought the discussion back to education itself — not only access, but content. While Afro-Brazilian history is officially part of the school curriculum, this is not consistently implemented. And even where it is taught, it is often not Afro-centric in its perspective. This raises a deeper issue: education does not just transmit knowledge — it shapes identity, belonging, and self-perception.
Starting this series with CONEN is intentional. Because before we speak about culture as expression — in art, fashion, or music — we need to recognize the movements and people who have fought to preserve, define, and defend that culture over decades. At the same time, the conversation opened a broader reflection on connections between Brazil and Nigeria.
Despite deep historical and cultural links — particularly through Yoruba heritage and the influence of Ifá traditions in Afro-Brazilian culture — collaboration between the two countries remains limited. Much of Brazil’s engagement with Africa continues to focus on Portuguese-speaking countries, leaving Nigeria somewhat outside of this exchange.
And yet, the connection is not theoretical. It is historical, lived, and visible. Afro-Brazilian returnees — formerly enslaved Africans who returned from Brazil to West Africa in the 19th century — have left a lasting imprint on Nigerian society. In Lagos, their legacy is still present in places like Popo Aguda (the Brazilian Quarter), where architecture, religion, cuisine, and cultural practices reflect this transatlantic history. Communities often referred to as Aguda stand as living evidence of a relationship that has never truly disappeared. In many ways, the bridge between Brazil and Nigeria has existed for generations.
Language plays a role — but it should no longer be a barrier. While only a small share of Brazilians speak English, and Portuguese is not widely spoken in Nigeria, technology has made communication easier than ever. The real question is whether we are intentional enough to build on what already exists.
What emerged clearly is the potential to activate these connections in new ways. Through art, culture, language, and education, we can create spaces where this shared history becomes visible again — especially for young people. Where Nigerian youth learn how their culture has evolved and is celebrated in Brazil, and Brazilian youth reconnect with the origins of that same heritage.
This is where collaboration becomes real. Not in abstract frameworks, but in lived exchange — rooted in people, history, and shared identity. Let’s learn together — and from each other. Because the future will not be built in isolation, but in connection. Across continents, across histories, across cultures — with a shared commitment to dignity, creativity, and opportunity.
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