In Lagos, A Tyre Never Dies

The Pneuma-city Project, led by researchers from the Universities of Lagos, Toronto, Kent, and York, began with a striking comment overheard on a busy street in Lagos, Nigeria: 'In Lagos, a tyre never dies'. This talk explores what that comment implies in one of the fastest‑growing cities in the world.

Focusing on second‑hand and end-of-life tyres, Professor Simon Coleman follows their journey through Lagos where they take on new roles in everyday life, serving as platforms for generators and market stalls, or being transformed into art, while also often being discarded on the streets, in gutters, or canals. In telling their story, he draws on powerful photographs by prize‑winning Nigerian photographer, Andrew Esiebo.

Join Prof Coleman as he explores how these tyres move through the city and shift in meaning and value. By following the afterlives of tyres and shedding light on the people who work with them, this talk reveals how something overlooked helps keep a megacity moving.