Watch: mixed picture🇳🇬 Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos for Black travellers
Lagos is a vast, fast-moving city and a centre of Afrobeat, art and Nigerian popular culture. Black travellers can connect with living musical heritage at Fela's Shrine and the city's galleries, but it demands planning: traffic is heavy and official advice flags violent street crime.
Where to stay & explore
- Ikeja — Home to the New Afrika Shrine and the Kalakuta Republic Museum, central to Fela Kuti's legacy.
- Lekki — Peninsula location of the Nike Art Gallery and the Lekki Conservation Centre canopy walkway.
- Lagos Island — Site of the National Museum Lagos, with archaeology, ethnography and traditional art.
Stay safe in Lagos
- FCDO reports high levels of violent street crime in Nigeria, including muggings and armed robbery.
- FCDO warns of high crime and little regulatory oversight on public transport, including taxis.
- Traffic in Lagos can be very slow; FCDO advises allowing extra time for journeys.
- Large public demonstrations periodically take place in Lagos and have involved violence and tear gas.
- British nationals are targeted by romance, business and employment scams operating from West Africa.
Black heritage & culture
- New Afrika Shrine — Live-music venue founded by Fela Kuti, run by his children Femi and Yeni; Fuji shows on first Saturdays.
- Kalakuta Republic Museum — Fela's former home, preserved with original furnishings and recording studio.
- Nike Art Gallery — Over 8,000 works of traditional and contemporary Nigerian art; free for individual visitors.
- Badagry heritage sites — About 60km west; include the 'Point of No Return' and slavery-era museums.
- National Museum Lagos — Opened 1957; archaeology, Benin bronzes and an attached crafts village.
Getting around
FCDO notes that traffic in Lagos is slow-moving, so allow extra time, and warns that taxis and other public transport are poorly regulated.
Festivals & events
- Felabration — Annual celebration of Fela Kuti's legacy at the New Afrika Shrine; confirm dates locally
Black-owned in Lagos
- Nok by Alara · Lagos
Contemporary pan-African fine dining on Victoria Island, attached to Reni Folawiyo's Alara concept store — the building was designed by Sir David Adjaye.
Black-owned · Website - New Afrika Shrine · Lagos
Legendary open-air Afrobeat venue in Ikeja, opened in 2000 by Fela Kuti's children Femi and Yeni as successor to Fela's original Afrika Shrine. Home of the annual Felabration.
Black-owned · Website - Bogobiri House · Lagos
African-themed boutique hotel, art gallery and cultural hub in Ikoyi, filled with Nigerian art — live music, open-mic and spoken-word nights, and exhibitions at Nimbus Gallery.
Black-owned · Tola Akerele & Chike Nwagbogu · Source · Website - Terra Kulture · Lagos
Victoria Island arts centre with a theatre, art gallery, Nigerian restaurant, bookstore and Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa language classes.
Black-owned · Bolanle Austen-Peters · Source · Website - Nike Art Gallery · Lagos
One of West Africa's largest galleries — five storeys in Lekki with around 8,000 works by Nigerian artists, including adire, batik and beadwork.
Black-owned · Nike Davies-Okundaye · Source · Website - Slice Lagos · Lagos (Victoria Island)
Upscale restaurant and lounge on Ologun Agbaje Street with tableside cocktails and an Italian-trained chef, serving Italian, Mexican and continental dishes.
Black-owned · Tracy Nwapa · Source · Website - Yellow Chilli Restaurant · Lagos (Victoria Island)
Traditional Nigerian and modern African restaurant on Oju Olobun Close, known for seafood, pepper soups and swallows; a second branch operates in Ikeja.
Black-owned · Ebere Shogbola · Source · Website - Maple Lagos · Lagos (Victoria Island)
All-day café and brunch spot on Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, from twins Taiwo and Kehinde Smith — pastries, brunch plates and coffee.
Black-owned · Taiwo Smith and Kehinde Smith · Source · Website - Circa Lagos · Lagos (Lekki Phase I)
Bistro at 2 Kola Adeyina Close in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, open since 2018 and part of The Borough group, with over 2,000 Google reviews.
Black-owned · Francis Obozuwa · Source · Website - Cafeteria NG · Lagos (Victoria Island)
American and Nigerian-influenced restaurant at 16b Akin Adesola Street in Victoria Island, Lagos, open for lunch and dinner and launched in 2022.
Black-owned · Taiwo Smith and Kehinde Smith · Source · Website - Rele Gallery · Lagos (Ikoyi)
Contemporary art gallery founded in Lagos in 2015 by Adenrele Sonariwo, with outposts in Los Angeles and London. Now based at Thompson Avenue, Ikoyi, with a current exhibition programme.
Black-owned · Adenrele Sonariwo · Source · Website - The House Lagos · Lagos (Victoria Island)
Restaurant, bar, lounge and courtyard venue opened in 2017 at 4 AJ Marinho Drive, Victoria Island, combining dining, music and entertainment. Open daily and well reviewed by visitors.
Black-owned · Tobi Hamilton · Source · Website
Sources: gov.uk · myguidenigeria.com · placestotour.com. Editorial city guide compiled October 2026 — not official travel advice. Opening times and conditions change; check official advice (GOV.UK, travel.state.gov) before you go.