It’s been shifting for a while now. Not so obvious, but if you pay attention, you can feel it. In how people create, how they dress, what they listen to, how they move.

A culture that sits just beneath the surface. Underground, close to home, and consistent. A quiet confidence in a generation building on its own terms, Its own language, Its own rhythm, Its own rules.

This is what it’s been looking like since we stopped asking for permission.

Across Lagos and beyond, a new wave of creatives are shaping culture from where they stand. Not waiting for validation, not adjusting themselves to fit existing frameworks, but working from instinct, community, and a shared understanding of what it means to exist on their own terms.

What’s been building in cities like Lagos has been unfolding quietly. Through music, through fashion, through art, through community, not as a moment, but as a continuous way of creating.

“Close to Home”

A study of emerging voices across music, sound, fashion, art, and visual culture. Each one distinct, but connected by something shared: originality.

Within this moment exists the Homecoming × Nike Air Max Plus. Not as the centre of the story, but as part of the environment these creatives already exist in. A familiar object, reinterpreted through their lens, worn in a way that reflects the culture they’re shaping in real time.

The story, however, belongs to the youths who show up every day and move with intention, chasing what they believe in while staying true to themselves. Creatives whose work reflects the energy of the current scene and shapes the shared experience of this moment.

Wave$star is a fast-rising Nigerian trap artist, carving out a sound that captures the realities of youth with sharp, witty storytelling. With tracks like “PRADA BBY” and “Escaladizzy” with Mavo, he stands as one of the defining voices of this generation.

Tobi Naiwo, creative director and founder of Nine, is building one of the most exciting streetwear brands in the Nigerian fashion scene. Rooted in family and community, his work extends beyond clothing into collaboration, collective growth, and active involvement in the skating community through events and outreach.

Kyla moves between modelling and DJing with ease, bringing a distinct presence to both. As female DJs continue to take up space, she stands out with a fearless, intuitive approach, often mixing directly from her phone, prioritising feeling and flow over convention.

Thatboy approaches visual art as something that should move. Using clothing as his canvas, he translates graffiti and airbrush techniques into wearable pieces, as seen in his 1/1 collection “Split Youth.” His work carries a rawness that has already led to collaborations with names like Bola PSD.

Timilehin Adeleke is an emerging model growing steadily into her own. With a natural ability to adapt to different environments, she brings a quiet confidence to every set, working with brands like ByFalasee, Mash Archive, and Clapped Mob, while building toward a future on the runway.

Tuv exists across disciplines, moving fluidly between skateboarding, modelling, and visual art. His work treats movement, style, and imagery as one continuous form of expression, reflected in his experimental approach to both fashion and mixed-media art.

Different talents. Different mediums. Different paths. But the same instinct.

Each of them creates from a place that feels natural. What they make is shaped by who they are, where they come from, and what they carry with them. Everything begins with something close, something familiar, something that already exists within.

You see it in how they create, how they move, how they build. It is not something they add on, but something they have always carried.

That is what connects them, and that is what defines this moment.

“Close to Home” is not an arrival. It is about staying rooted while moving forward.

This is an era of our own making.

Kyla, DJ

The DJ scene in Nigeria is evolving quickly. What does the space currently look like for women, and what shifts are shaping their presence right now?

Kyla: Women are taking more control now. It’s not just about being booked anymore, it’s about curating spaces, building communities, and defining the sound. There’s more range too. People aren’t trying to fit into one box, and that individuality is what’s shifting the culture.

DJing sits at the center of how people experience music right now. When you’re behind the decks, what do you feel your role is in shaping that energy?

Kyla: It’s about control and storytelling. You’re shaping how people feel in real time, building tension and releasing it. Even though I DJ from my phone, it doesn’t take away from that, it actually makes it more fluid. It’s less about the equipment and more about how intentional the transitions and energy are.

With raves and party culture evolving so quickly, how does your own style find its place in the room?

Kyla: My style is mood-driven. It’s darker, immersive, and a bit unpredictable. I pull from Afro Tech, gqom, Afro house, even Afrobeats, but it’s more about how it feels than what it is. I’m creating a world people step into, not just playing a set.

Thatboy, Visual Artist

As a visual artist working closely with street culture, how do you see the current creative scene evolving, and where do you place yourself within it?

Thatboy: Since I started airbrushing, more artists have been tapping into it. It’s opened up the scene more because it’s something that can connect with music, fashion, even personality. It’s becoming bigger than just one medium.

Your work sits between streetwear and street art. How do you translate that raw graffiti energy into something wearable?

Thatboy: Spray painting is raw, fast, and emotional. It’s not perfect, and that’s what makes it real. When I put that into clothing, I try to keep that same energy. I don’t want it to feel too clean or manufactured. The idea is for the pieces to feel like moving canvases.

What’s something you wish people understood about your work?

Thatboy: My work is a part of me. It carries a lot of emotions I had growing up, so it’s really just an extension of who I am.

Timi Adeleke, Model

What has your experience in modelling been like so far?

Timi: It’s been a mix of learning and opportunity. Modelling now isn’t just about standing in front of a camera, it’s about showing who you are as a person and building a presence around that.

How have you been navigating the space?

Timi: I’ve learned that not every opportunity is for you. Understanding what aligns with your style and your direction early on helps you move better within the industry.

What does growth look like for you right now?

Timi: Finding ways to express what makes me different. I enjoy making things with my hands, and I love fashion, so I create my own accessories sometimes. It’s about building something that feels personal.

How long have you been modelling, and what are you working towards long-term?

Timi: I’ve been modelling for about a year now. Over time, I’ve started to see it as more than just a job. Long-term, I want to build a strong personal brand, work with global names, and explore other areas like creative direction, fashion, or media.

Tuv, Skateboarder

Skating is still a relatively small community here, but it seems to hold a strong creative niche. How would you describe its influence on young people and the culture around it?

Tuv: Skateboarding is more than just riding on a piece of wood with four wheels , it’s almost like an act of moving meditation, skating  enables young creatives like myself to feel free, reckless, and aware in the present moment even taking off some daily pressure, the skate community provides a safe space where young creatives have the opportunity to connect with peers and engage in more creative self expression, it’s one big family with the skate community and I find it so amazing how skateboarding can bring so many people from different backgrounds together connecting through music , fashion and art.

You move between skating, modelling, and visual art. How do these different sides of you connect, and where do you feel most at home within them?

Tuv: I’m an Expresser I constantly need to project in the most authentic way, skateboarding, modeling and making art feel the most natural to me , because they’ve always been a part of me , from nagging at my parents to get me roller skates when I was toddler, to throwing cloths on and taking pics when I was 11 , to sitting outside my house and drawing cars , these three have just always been a part of me and they intrigue me more getting older , it’s really hard to say where I feel at home the most because wow I feel at peace practicing all of them.

Looking ahead, what does the long-term vision for you look like, and how do you see all these parts of your work coming together?

Tuv: Long term the goal is to create a sustainable career, I’m trying to pursue being a full time creative and give more spotlight to my works and my identity as a person, to be very honest I want how they come together to be as spontaneous as possible because I’m different and that’s going to show in my art , my style , and how I ride the board , people need to realize my perspective is one of one and it’s only going to get more articulate as I keep creating and expressing myself.

Tobi Naiwo, Fashion Designer 

There are many conversations around originality in the fashion scene, and it’s a recurring topic. What’s your take on this?

Tobi: There is a thin line with originality, but as a creative, you know what you’re doing. If you know it was your idea, then it was your idea. A lot of people start out making something else and then grow into their own. I feel like as long as you’re doing something, that’s what really matters.

What’s one brand in Nigeria you’ve collaborated with, and what did that experience mean to you?

Tobi: I’ve collaborated with my friends, Homeland, BlBrand, FFTW, Eternal Zoe, Preoccupied-society and Deloca. Those experiences meant a lot to me. We did it for about two years consecutively and went to about three cities, Ibadan, Lagos, and Abuja. It was a very personal project for me. The last one we did, we donated the proceeds to our community. I’ll never trade that experience for anything.

Wave$tar, Musician

With all the exciting developments in the music scene right now, what moment stands out to you the most?

Wave$tar: The meeting point for fashion and music. This generation is really bridging that gap, and it’s lovely to see. In events, in music videos, streetwear culture is being highlighted in this new scene. That’s an exciting moment for me.

There’s been a noticeable shift in Nigerian music, with artists no longer relying solely on Afrobeats to express themselves. As a young person in this era, what does this evolution mean to you?

Wave$tar: When I was younger, I was one of those kids who wanted to do something different. Now there’s space for that. There’s acceptance for different styles and sounds, and that’s what’s remarkable about this evolution. I feel like people used to be more closed-minded, but now everyone’s creativity is accepted. There are new sounds, new styles of writing, production, it’s a whole lot. I’m really grateful to be in this era.

When you’re making music, what parts of yourself or your environment naturally show up in the sound?

Wave$tar: There are different parts. I always keep shows in mind. I love a good story, and I love to tell one, so I’m always trying to paint a picture and make people see and feel something. Then there’s the performance side, where I want people to feel like they’re part of something. We talk in codes, we speak in our dialects. All these parts come together, and you can tell that this generation really feels connected to what’s being created.

 

Produced by Primeries
Creative Direction: Hannan Olasunkanmi, Lotanna Onyekwelu
Producers: Tblaq, Fola;
Cast: Timi Adeleke, Kyla, Thatboy, Tobi Naiwo, Wave$star, Tuv;
Photography: 28iris, Fola;
Assistant Photographer: Ade(to)juwon;
Videography: Sweggy;
Editing & Color: Tinney;
Gaffer: Demer;
Styling: Skeng, Lotanna Onyekwelu; 
Set Design: Hannan Olasunkanmi, Lotanna Onyekwelu;
Set Assistants: Tblaq, Zac;
Hair: Kehinde Are (Assistant);
Makeup: Yulaa;
BTS Videography: Raji, Crystal;
Adire Print: Ayinke Aladire; 
Location Partner: SSD;
Editor-in-Chief: Lotanna;
Editorial Design: Praise 
Editorial Writers: Zac, Tammie;
Content Direction: Hannan Olasunkanmi, Crystal Ofoeze, Lotanna Onyekwelu, Tblaq.