A travelling danfo becomes a vessel for sound, memory and diasporic encounter as it journeys from Berlin to Helsinki for Southnord Artfest 2026.
12 August 2026
What happens when a familiar symbol of Lagos enters the streets of Northern Europe? In ‘Transmissions’, Nigerian artist Emeka Ogboh places the iconic danfo bus in motion, tracing a route from Berlin through Copenhagen and Stockholm to Helsinki as part of Southnord Artfest 2026.
More than a journey between cities, ‘Transmissions’ considers migration as an evolving network of memory, culture and human connection. At each stop, the danfo transforms public space into a site of collective encounter, activated by DJs from African diaspora networks and accompanied by conversations, performances and gatherings. Along the way, it absorbs the voices and experiences of communities whose lives have been shaped by movement and belonging.
The journey culminates in Helsinki, where the bus enters the gallery as part of ‘The Other Side of the Mountain’, Southnord Artfest’s headline exhibition at Amos Rex. Visitors will encounter a specially composed radio programme weaving recorded dialogues with music drawn from Ogboh’s sonic practice, connecting Lagos, Berlin and the Nordic region.
‘Transmissions’ is on view at Amos Rex in Helsinki from 14 October 2026 until 21 March 2027.
