Traveling “Booxhibition” Brings Climate‑Change Research to West African Coastal Communities
Along the shoreline of Orimedu in Nigeria, fishermen watch the sea inch closer to their homes each day. The creeping tide threatens not only their dwellings but also the nets, canoes, and livelihoods that have sustained families for generations. To make the science of sea‑level rise and coastal erosion tangible, a traveling exhibition — dubbed the “Booxhibition” — has been moving through villages in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, sharing photographs, landscape‑architecture designs, and first‑hand testimonies from the people most affected.
Why the Exhibition Matters
Coastal erosion in the Gulf of Guinea is advancing at an alarming rate. Satellite analyses show that some stretches of shoreline have retreated more than 30 metres per decade (USGS, 2023). In Orimedu, community leader Ayensu Nana‑Kofi notes that the distance between the sea and residential areas has shrunk from roughly 200 metres to under 50 metres in just five years.
The Booxhibition translates three years of interdisciplinary research into a visual, accessible format. Curated by Gareth Doherty, Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore, the project is funded and led by Harvard University’s Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability. By presenting data alongside community voices, the exhibition aims to spark what Doherty calls “actionable hope” — the belief that informed discussion can lead to concrete adaptation steps.
What Visitors See
- Photographic documentation of changing coastlines in Nigeria, Ghana, and Ivory Coast, highlighting encroaching waters, damaged infrastructure, and adaptive practices.
- Landscape‑architecture proposals that blend climate science with local knowledge — such as mangrove restoration, permeable seawalls, and community‑managed coconut plantations.
- Interactive discussion boards where residents can post questions, share observations, and suggest priorities for future interventions.
In Orimedu, Nana‑Kofi shared a simple yet effective technique demonstrated at the exhibition: planting coconut seedlings and arranging repurposed jars along the shoreline to trap sediment and reduce wave energy. “He taught us how to prevent coastal erosion by planting coconuts and jars to slow erosion and achieve our goal,” he said, referring to the guidance provided by the exhibition’s design team.
Community Voices on the Front Line
Trader Mary Mensah, who sells fish at the local market, described the pervasive anxiety that now shapes daily life:
“We sleep in fear and wake up in fear because we have no idea when the sea will take over this community. The sea is getting closer to us every day.”
Similar sentiments echo in the fishing villages of Okun Alpha and Makoko (Nigeria), Azuretti (Côte d’Ivoire), and Accra (Ghana), where the Booxhibition has already been hosted. Residents repeatedly cite the loss of productive fishing grounds, increased flooding during storms, and the mounting cost of repairing or relocating homes.
From Research to Action
The underlying research, conducted between 2021 and 2024, combined:
- Remote‑sensing analysis of shoreline change across a 2,000‑ to 2,300‑kilometre stretch of the Gulf of Guinea coastline.
- Socio‑economic surveys of over 1,200 households to understand dependence on fisheries and coastal agriculture.
- Design workshops with local artisans, planners, and NGOs to co‑create adaptation measures that are culturally appropriate and financially viable.
Findings indicate that nature‑based solutions — particularly mangrove reforestation and living shorelines — can reduce wave energy by up to 60 % in pilot sites, buying communities valuable time while longer‑term infrastructural plans are developed (Salata Institute, 2024).
Looking Ahead
The Booxhibition’s next stops include additional coastal towns in Benin and Togo, with plans to translate exhibition materials into local languages such as Yoruba, Ewe, and French. Organizers hope that by keeping the conversation grounded in lived experience, policymakers will prioritize funding for community‑led adaptation projects.
As Gareth Doherty summarizes:
“If we want to change the future, we have to imagine the future. And in order to imagine the future, we have to discuss the future. That is the main intention of this Booxhibition: to spark shared discussions about what the future might look like and what we can do now to prepare for it.”
For the families of Orimedu and countless others along the Gulf of Guinea, the exhibition offers more than data — it provides a platform to voice concerns, learn practical steps, and collectively envision a resilient coastline.
References
- Harvard Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability. (2024). Living Shorelines for the Gulf of Guinea: Pilot Results and Recommendations. Cambridge, MA.
- United States Geological Survey (USGS). (2023). Shoreline Change Rates in West Africa, 1990‑2022. Reston, VA.
- Doherty, G. (2024). Curator’s Statement, Booxhibition Traveling Exhibition. National University of Singapore.
