Bolaji Alonge, also known as Eyes of a Lagos Boy, is a Nigerian photographer, visual artist, journalist, and cultural storyteller with more than two decades of experience documenting history, heritage, and human identity. His work captures the spirit of Lagos and the wider African experience through photography, writing, and multimedia expression.
Alonge’s practice blends documentary observation with artistic interpretation, creating a visual archive that spans daily life, urban transformation, music, travel, and global culture.
A graduate of the University of Lagos, Alonge began photographing Lagos in the early 2000s, developing a signature style marked by bold colour, empathetic framing, and an instinct for capturing the extraordinary in everyday scenes. His international career includes exhibitions in New York, Antwerp, Brighton, and Scarborough, alongside collaborations with artists, cultural institutions, and development organisations. His work has appeared in The Guardian, CNN Africa, The Nation, The Cable, ThisDay, and numerous art and culture platforms worldwide.
In May 2017, Alonge organized the “Eyes of a Lagos Boy” photo exhibition at the prestigious Freedom Park in Lagos. The show presented iconic images of everyday life and societal concerns from Nigeria, Egypt, the Netherlands, Oman, Germany, India, Turkey and Sweden.
“Eyes of A Lagos Boy” was declared a resounding success in terms of attendance and response from both the Nigerian and international audience, giving birth to a unique photographic brand. The exhibition brought together admirers of arts/photography to exchange views, interact and encourage young Africans to pick up the camera, travel and make photography a career.
Alonge’s artistic philosophy centres on visibility—amplifying stories that are often overlooked and presenting African identity from an insider’s perspective. Through Eyes of a Lagos Boy, he has built an extensive body of work including urban street photography, portraits, environmental narratives, cultural and historic documentation. Eyes of a Lagos Boy is a media partner of the iconic annual music fastival – Felabration, preserving the evolving legacy of Fela Kuti, Afrobeat and the spirit of Lagos nightlife.
“I aim to capture the reality of the average African – a mix of stark realities that might seem chaotic but have their own functionality – however disorganized it looks at first sight. Life works in Africa too. The two main components of chaos theory are the idea that systems no matter how complex rely upon an underlying order, and that very simple or small systems and events can cause very complex behaviors or event. This is a red thread throughout my work today”.
“Eyes of a Lagos Boy” is promoted through the production of T-shirts and other merchandising, available worldwide, which supports self-funding projects.
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. In order 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.”
His second solo exhibition “Urban Culture – Historical Continuity” was held at One Draw Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos in November 2018, establishing Bolaji’s brand of photography to a new audience, receiving great reviews from artists and art lovers.
In February 2019, Bolaji showcased his work at Baza Studio in New York, The event was attended by the Nigerian Consul in New York, UN officials, art curators, musicians, artists, press and art aficionados. On 16th March 2019, Eyes of A Lagos Boy was also introduced in a showcase in Antwerp, Belgium.
During Felabration in October 2019, Alonge held the Afrobeat – The Legacy photo exhibition on Femi Kuti at Freedom Park, Lagos.
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.
Bolaji Alonge joined Music in Africa as the Regional Editor for West Africa in August 2019. Music In Africa is the largest 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.
Greener Pastures Multimedia exhibition was held in 2021 to highlight the experience of the people living in the riverine communities of Lagos.
In 2022, Iconic Lagos took place at Didi Museum Lagos, after a campaign all through major European cities.
Eyes of a Lagos Boy, presented his exhibition, Iconic Lagos, at the 2023 Brighton Fringe Arts Festival in the United Kingdom (UK), in what has been likened to an assertive push for the Nigerian arts at the global stage.
in September of 2023, 6 HOURS a collaborative exhibition, with Ottograph, a Dutch muralist was presented. It investigates contrasts and similarities of life in the home cities of the duo, Amsterdam and Lagos – two cities with a six-hour flight time between them – to deliver a narrative that is thought-provoking, engaging and inspiring. It also explored several themes such as; life in a megapolis on the seashore, dance, music, masquerades, freedom of expression and others. 6 HOURS was organised with the support of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Lagos.
In 2024 and 2025, Alonge expanded his creative and documentary practice, strengthening his role as an artist, writer, and public relations strategist.
In April 2025, Lagos Lagoon Chronicles multimedia exhibition was held at the National Museum in Lagos. A year long project the culminated in the show, combining photography, community engagement, and visual research to spotlight the environmental challenges affecting lagoon communities of Epe. June 2025, he opened Ekaabo – Welcome to Lagos in Scarborough, UK, presenting the emotive rhythm, humanity, and architectural memory of Lagos to an international audience.
Alonge continued to publish widely, producing reflective articles on art, travel, culture, music, Lagos history, and identity. His writing complements his visual work, offering deeper narrative context to the places and people he documents. A notable 2025 feature revisited Zuma Rock, blending reportage, memory, and landscape photography in his signature storytelling style.
In October 2025, Alonge served as Public Relations Lead for the Nordic Nigeria Connect Summit, managing media relations, communications strategy, event photography, and post-summit press releases for one of the year’s major international gatherings on innovation and collaboration. This role underscored his versatility across media, diplomacy, and cultural communication.
A continuous documenter of Lagos life, Alonge remains committed to using art as a tool for memory, advocacy, and connection. His work encourages audiences—locally and globally—to re-imagine familiar spaces, celebrate heritage, and engage with the world through a lens of curiosity, humanity, and hope.
In addition to his work in photography, Bolaji Alonge is involved in film and media, contributing to the broader cultural landscape of Nigeria. His work is often celebrated for its authenticity and ability to convey deep emotional connections with his subjects.
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