LIMCAF through the years

2026

Open LetterEndowment, institutional strengthening, global visibilityNow

Top 100 artists from 18 regional centres come to Enugu for a week-long Grand Finale: exhibition, art and craft fair, lectures, cultural tours and the Gala and Award Night.

1 documents

2025

Alumni & legacy exhibitions

Alumni and legacy exhibitions in Lagos, 18 regional exhibitions and expanded programming.

3 documents

2024

Residencies + bootcamps

Residencies and the national bootcamp joined the festival calendar.

10 works · 2 documents

2023

Disability inclusion & children's education

The festival expanded its disability-inclusive and children's education programming.

15 documents

2022

10 works · 14 documents

2021

9 works · 19 documents

2020

Entries were received from regional centres across the country and published as regional catalogues.

9 documents

2019

9 works

2018

Ifedilichukwu Chibuike's installation Enigma won the overall prize, and LIMCAF finalists travelled to Dak'Art, the Dakar Biennale.

12 works · 6 photographs

2017

6 photographs

2016

Riches WithinEdition 1010th anniversary

The 10th anniversary edition (2007–2016). The Grand Finale exhibition ran 24–29 October in Enugu, alongside film screenings with CLAM.

1 works · 110 photographs

2015

Edition 9

The 9th Grand Finale and Award Night in Enugu.

1 works · 12 photographs

2014

Edition 8

The Top 25 of 2014 spanned painting, terracotta, beads, chicken mesh, video and found objects — and Ngozi Omeje's Placenta took the overall prize.

27 works

2013

Edition 7

3 works

2012

Edition 6Registered as a trusteeship

LIMCAF was registered as a trusteeship, Life In My City Art Initiative. The festival ran across nine cities and added Photo Africa, a pan-African photography contest.

1 works

2011

Edition 5

Entries reached 615 — up from 180 in 2007 — and the Top 100 finalists were exhibited at the Grand Finale in Enugu.

87 works

2010

Nigeria at 50Edition 4

The fourth edition marked Nigeria's 50th anniversary, with a national symposium — 50 Years After Independence: Redefining Art Education in Nigeria — a photography exhibition by Tam Fiofori, school and teacher workshops and the Grand Finale award night.

2 works · 3 photographs

2009

Edition 3

Over 500 entries and new collection centres in Kano, Port Harcourt and Ilorin, with zonal exhibitions in Ibadan, Kaduna, Enugu, Owerri and Port Harcourt. The festival received official support from the Enugu State Government and opened the Coal City's centenary celebrations.

33 works · 1 photographs

2008

Edition 2

Entries passed 400. The festival week added a lecture, roundtables, studio tours with the French Ambassador and the Awards night.

1 works · 19 photographs

2007

Edition 1LIMCAF established

The first Life in My City Art Festival, held in Enugu in October 2007, drew about 180 entries from young artists across Nigeria. It grew out of a partnership between Rocana Nigeria Ltd, Alliance Française Enugu and the Pan African Circle of Artists.

1 works