Backyard Garden and Grill opened its doors for business in March 2016 bringing to the Lekki area of Lagos state, a laid-back space for eccentric expression.
A Professional Architect by profession, Temitayo Abolade, started Backyard Garden and Grill as a way to fuse all his favourite things; his love for entertaining, his love for art and exhibitions and his love for the alternative. For 13 years, art collection has been a part of his life and Backyard Garden and Grill was his way of showing to the world, this luxurious oddity.
So far, Backyard Garden and Grill has primarily grown into a community by word of mouth advertisement and is now known as the special place for beautiful art, incredible music and just like the name indicates, a myriad of wonderfully grilled food.
We met up with Temitayo to try to get into the mind of such an obviously fun man.
Ibiene : What do you find important about having Backyard Garden and Grill?
Temitayo: The fact that people can come to have such family-friendly fun in a laid back outdoor space with beautiful alternative music, and still enjoy the luxury of art and art exhibitions. It’s not noisy and it feels very homely. We also give upcoming artists a safe space to have exhibitions. Art doesn’t have to be expensive and untouchable, it can be available and warm for people and Backyard Garden and Grill is all about making sure of that.
Ibiene: That sounds interesting. So, what is the motivating factor for you?
Temitayo: I’m very people oriented. So I’m mostly driven and motivated by people values. There is a resurgence of the alternative, introspective and the artsy in Nigeria right now and Backyard Garden and Grill provides for people, the place to relax and enjoy what they really like. Money is not a driving force for the business but happy people is.
Ibiene: Would you say that there are other places that have inspired or influenced you?
Temitayo: Yes, in Greenpoint, Capetown, there’s a backyard grill much like this one. A few other places here are the Omenka Gallery and DD Museum. Nero’s Café, Miliki by Patrick Koshoni and Jazzhole have all in some way or another been an inspiration to me.
Ibiene: What lessons would you like Backyard Grill to share?
Temitayo: I hope Backyard Garden and Grill inspires other people to find that special oddity about themselves and explore them just like we do here. I hope we are also able to inspire young artists to put their work out there for people to see.
When in search for a light weekend of fun and soul food in an atmosphere of love!
