Art lovers and the curious flocked to the Civic Centre in 2016 for the maiden edition of Art X Lagos – designed to expand Nigeria’s link to the contemporary art scene across Africa and the global community.

The 2017 edition will begin today, November 3 and will run through to November 5 and guess what? We are so excited. We are also guessing you are too.

But let’s give snippets of the reason behind our excitement – you would see the real deal at the venue.

In only its 2nd year, ART X Lagos has already emerged as the premier international art fair in West Africa.

Notable artists among the 2017 line-up include the Nigerian-born, British-based, globally renowned artist and sculptor Yinka Shonibare MBE, as well as Zanele Muholi (South Africa), Jeremiah Quarshie (Ghana), Modupeola Fadugba (Nigeria), Nandipha Mntambo (Swaziland), Virginia Chihota (Zimbabwe), Boris Nzebo (Cameroon), Babajide Olatunji (Nigeria), Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum (Botswana), Amadou Sanogo (Mali) and Portia Zvavahera (Zimbabwe).

Don’t go yet. If you attended the inaugural edition last year, you probably are already anticipating the interactive projects curated by A Whitespace Creative Agency (AWCA) at the fair last year. Keep your hopes up because Papa Omotayo and his team are back and, are even better this year with emerging artists to like Olalekan Jeyifous, Dipo Doherty (who, since his big debut last year has continued to wow us with his cross between sculptural and painted visual works), Queen Nwaneri, Soji Adesina (we are silently hoping and praying he blesses us with one of the smoking, coffee-drinking ladies), Sejiro Avoseh and Lubee Abubakar (we cannot wait to to see how photographers will feed in this year).

And the talks! Curated this year by Missla Libsekal, will include talks with Njideka Akunyili Crosby, the Nigerian-born LA-based artist recently shortlisted for the Future Generation Art Prize 2017, and Lemi Ghariokwu, the mastermind behind Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti’s album artwork.

ART X Live!! Yeahhhh!!! This, just like last year, will see live art and music performances featuring musicians AYE, Poe and Tomi Thomas, alongside talented visual artists.

One more thing and just so you know what you’re in for: there are 13 Exhibiting Galleries this year from Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal, Cameroon, South Africa, and the United Kingdom!

Did someone yell bigger and better? Sure you did!