Description
This paper explores Freedom Park in Lagos, developed on the site of Broad Street Prison, as a form of overwriting rather than conserving. The transformation of this previously carceral space into Freedom Park it is argued narrates Nigeria’s past in terms of projecting its future. Broad Street prison was the first built by the British during colonial era. The prison was mainly demolished in 1979, and by the 1990s was wasteland used for dumping rubbish, the transformation occurred in the context of architects being concerned about the loss of historical buildings on Lagos Island. Since its regeneration, timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence in 2010, it has become a key arts venue and houses a museum on site. It also houses cafes and food stalls.
This paper, based on ethnographic and interview research, explores how the space is inhabited, utilised and understood, how the current architecture and museum exhibitions write this history in particular ways for particular audiences. The paper argues how the telling of the story of the park as one of colonial oppression and Nigerian regeneration creates a hopeful narrative arc, reinforced by the prosperity on display at the park, which is about curating Nigeria’s future as much as its past.
