There’s something alchemically thrilling about Amah – a brand new members’ membership, co-working house and interdisciplinary assembly level for Lagos’ artistic class (opening 20 October 2024). It’s based by photographer, artwork director and stylist Daniel Obasi, identified for his e-book Stunning Resistance, printed as a part of Louis Vuitton’s Trend Eye collection. The tome presents a visually arresting narrative on the queer neighborhood of Nigeria and the current youth-led protests towards institutional violence.
With Amah, Obasi expands his community-driven motion thesis additional, with the goal of constructing a bodily surroundings the place inspiration, vocation and marvel can meet. We sat down with him to listen to extra.
How Amah got here to life in Lagos
(Picture credit score: Adaeze Ihebom)
Wallpaper*: Why did you’re feeling it necessary to open Amah and why now?
Daniel Obasi: In December 2022, I used to be feeling caught when it comes to Lagos. I had finished plenty of cute stuff, plenty of initiatives, however I wasn’t actually seeing myself within the Lagos house anymore. And it felt like everybody was leaving. We have been happening a location scout, once I first noticed the house [the top floor of the landmark Eleganza Tower]. I then went residence and instructed my buddy, ‘I noticed one of the crucial beautiful areas in Lagos.’ And since I’m a visible particular person, and I’ve foresight, I may inform what, if effectively finished, the house may seem like. My mates satisfied me and mentioned, ‘You are able to do it.’ I wasn’t positive I may afford it, as a result of it got here with an all-encompassing finances as there was a lot renovation work wanted. And I did not suppose it was one thing I may tackle on my own. However my buddy mentioned, ‘However you’ve at all times mentioned you wished neighborhood. And perhaps that is God’s method of telling you that it’s time to weave that neighborhood you’ve at all times talked about.’
(Picture credit score: Daniel Obasi.)
W*: What’s your imaginative and prescient for Lagos’ artistic neighborhood and what position will Amah play?
DO: So, my imaginative and prescient is I need individuals to have the ability to discover themselves inside the house. And regardless that we are saying it’s a members’ membership, we’re not saying membership within the sense of making an attempt to be elitist. It’s extra to be sure that we’re conscious of who you might be and we are able to vouch that this can be a good particular person to be related to the house. We would like you to be weak on this house, as a result of a part of being an artist is being weak. We would like individuals to have the ability to speak about their issues and be trustworthy and have trustworthy conversations with others. And so that you can do this, we’ve to ensure that your pursuits are additionally protected and supported.
(Picture credit score: Daniel Obasi.)
‘I need individuals to have the ability to discover themselves inside the house’
Daniel Obasi
W*: What made you select Lagos Island on your location and the Eleganza Constructing specifically?
DO: I feel likelihood and destiny performed a job. I simply stumbled upon it. The constructing is by Cappa and D’Alberto [a noted construction and design company that has been operating in Nigeria since 1934] and so they have very refined tastes, as this constructing is a marvel. Quite a lot of my work intersects with Lagos Island. Within the Louis Vuitton e-book, I shot totally on rooftops and in deserted buildings in Lagos Island and Ebute Metta. Within the e-book, there’s a picture that talks a couple of heralding of a motion. That’s what Stunning Resistance is about. And I feel that’s what Amah is turning into, so perhaps the e-book was a foreshadowing of what I’m at present creating.
(Picture credit score: Daniel Obasi.)
W*: Are you able to inform us a bit of bit in regards to the collaborators you will have chosen for the design side of the house?
DO: Roosevelt Amase, Uche Uba, Christina Nwabugo – these are the collaborators I work with on each mission of my life! However it’s extra about individuals who exist in my house. It’s like an prolonged household. I really feel like my secret weapon in terms of ideation is definitely conversations and we’ve loads. Quite a lot of issues we’ve created we’ve constituted of recycled supplies and scraps, and sourcing previous furnishings from warehouses that we are able to both repurpose or re-tweak. We repainted some unique calabash gourds and stools our cobalt blue color simply to see how that might be attention-grabbing. We additionally designed items, just like the lamps, chairs and sofas which might be made by artisans; and sure, you’ll be able to order from Amah Artisanal. Our artisans are scattered throughout Lagos. The artisanal market right here wants extra construction when it comes to schooling, and we simply attempt to information them as a lot as attainable. However as a result of we wish this house to really feel as experimental as attainable, it is extremely necessary to view even these items as experiments.
(Picture credit score: Daniel Obasi.)
W*: You’re finest often called a photographer, however you’ve had many different lives: graphic artist, stylist, positive artist, filmmaker, furnishings designer. Is refusing to be outlined as one factor one thing you might be bringing to the Amah essence?
DO: Completely. We now have only one life. Amah has only one life, and she’s going to stay it to the fullest. My mates describe Amah as a diva, she will get and does precisely what she needs, so Amah is just not afraid to put on many hats. I wore an architectural hat for this. I’ve by no means designed a constructing in my life earlier than and I designed and renovated all of this on my own – working with a contractor and engineers and them letting me know what is feasible. And I’m additionally making errors and being OK with making errors. I feel I can really design a home now. My mum says I behave like the extra seasoning you set final minute within the meals once you’re not so positive after which that’s the flavour that you just convey to areas. I feel that’s what my expertise actually, actually is.
(Picture credit score: Daniel Obasi.)
W*: On your opening what’s the plan and is it tied to a theme?
DO: Our opening programme could be very attention-grabbing. We’re launching with a marketing campaign referred to as ‘Amah Loves You’. Amah Loves You with Daniel Obasi and mates. It’s a roll-out that can embrace quick clips and it’ll all be tied into our Amah cocktails. We are attempting to embody the retro really feel that we expect Amah is absolutely about. That complete going to accommodate events, being someplace you’ll be able to have a cute dialog, which is what we are attempting to convey again. We will even have cocktail editorials, with them wanting pretty and retro in glasses. After which the ultimate factor we’re doing is the launch itself, which will probably be an artwork exhibition of the house.
‘We would like you to be weak on this house, as a result of a part of being an artist is being weak’
Daniel Obasi
(Picture credit score: Daniel Obasi.)
W*: Is Amah’s inclusive mandate as a result of individuals typically really feel judged? How necessary is it to you that you’re an ally to all communities?
DO: It’s positively part of it, Amah could be very inclusive; even within the marketing campaign, we are attempting to be sure that we illustrate how everybody right here is welcome. For the co-working house, we are attempting to construction it as packages so you’ll be able to pay for a three-month package deal, you’ll be able to pay for a one-month package deal. And the concept is that if you’re a co-worker, you’re a member right here. I really feel like life modifications, the purpose you might be at at this time doesn’t imply that’s the place you’re going to be for the remainder of your life. You could be somebody who can afford to come back right here for one month after which tomorrow you turn into somebody who can afford to be right here the entire yr.
(Picture credit score: Daniel Obasi.)
W*: Are you able to share a few of the programming you will have in place for the membership?
DO: A part of the inspiration for Amah was the unique neighborhood areas that I [came across] once I was breaking into the scene: Stranger Lagos [a pioneering design-led concept store] and Café Neo. Stranger was owned by Yegwa Ukpo and other people would come and the door was at all times open. I may are available in and simply be. So, we’ve the Amah Conversations, which is a podcast and a video the place we invite individuals to take a seat down and have conversations; there is no such thing as a host. We the crew have put collectively some questions like a deck of playing cards and also you randomly reply. We had our first episode shot [with] Yegwa and Adeju Thompson of Lagos House Programme [a non-binary, luxury design project]. It was necessary that I open this factor proper, so I needed to pay homage to the OG of neighborhood constructing.
(Picture credit score: Daniel Obasi.)
W*: Do you see Amah increasing past its constructing?
DO: It’s so humorous as a result of the which means of ‘amah’ in Igbo, once you really break it down, is ‘a neighborhood house for gathering’, so each particular person comes from an ‘amah’. Our title additionally comes from ‘amamihe’, which implies ‘knowledge’. So ‘amamihe’ is to know, to know and that’s why our tagline is ‘an area for gathering and data’. I do see Amah increasing past the constructing, as a result of we’re very enthusiastic about neighborhood growth. Our programmes are already design-, research- and materials-led. It’s about making an attempt to determine why sure issues exist and consider methods to repair them. We’re nonetheless growing what we are able to discover first as an outreach. We now have a extremely small crew and there’s various stuff to do, however we imagine we are able to do it.
Amah will open on 20 October 2024, danielobasi.com
(Picture credit score: Daniel Obasi.)
Supply: Wallpaper
