Skepta has unveiled DILIGENT, a new public artwork with CIRCA, taking over London’s Piccadilly Lights and public screens across Africa and around the world.
The British-Nigerian artist and musician premiered the commission at Piccadilly Circus last night, Wednesday 16th September, launching a work built around 24 statements exploring identity, environment, perception, ambition and the forces that shape who we become.
Presented sequentially across CIRCA’s network of public screens, the statements move between personal reflection and provocation. They include “I’M A PRODUCT OF MY ENVIRONMENT, BUT I REFUSE TO BE DEFINED BY IT”, “FEAR IS A CHOICE”, “A NIGERIAN CHIEF”, “BORED OF CONTROL”, “THE NOTION OF IDENTITY” and “THE WRITING’S ON THE WALL.”
The opening night also saw the premiere of a new archival film tracing Skepta’s journey from growing up on the Meridian Estate in Tottenham and his Nigerian family history to more than two decades spent building an independent creative career.
The project turns language — always central to Skepta’s music — into the artwork itself, removing statements from their original context and placing them at monumental scale in public space.
Speaking about DILIGENT, Skepta said:
“London is the city where I grew my voice. With this project, I wanted to take a look back at my journey and put some of my words back into the city that shaped them.”
He added that words have always been a powerful part of his work, with some taking on lives beyond the music:
“I wanted to give them their own space and see them in a different context.”
The commission arrives as Skepta continues to expand his practice beyond music and DJing into fashion, painting and film. A new full-length interview produced for CIRCA accompanies the project, covering Tottenham, Nigeria, family, identity, media, independence and success, as well as this increasingly multidisciplinary approach.
Alongside the public artwork, CIRCA has released a series of 24 hand-signed Skepta prints, each featuring one of the statements from DILIGENT. Priced at £150 and available exclusively through CIRCA, each purchase also enters the buyer into a draw to win £24,000.
CIRCA presents Skepta: DILIGENT runs on Piccadilly Lights, London, and participating screens across Africa and internationally until 31st October 2026. The work appears daily at 20:26 and is free to view.
CIRCA presents Skepta: DILIGENT, Piccadilly Lights, London 16th September–31st October 2026 Daily at 20:26
