What’s in the Ibadan air that influences Tega Ethan’s music? For this week’s Creator Spotlight, we spoke with him about his growing music career, love for Ibadan and breakout role as Abiola in the Netflix movie, All Na Vibes.
: “I got to Enugu and started asking people on the streets for his address. It was crazy, but somehow, I located his house. I waited for some time before he came down. Then I told him I wanted to act and had been trying to for some time. He asked me how old I was. I told him I was 15 and in my first year of university.”
I spent all my life wearing things I didn’t want, but when I got into uni, I could start dressing as I wanted. I had to hard-wire confidence into myself. So now, I don’t care how ridiculous you think my outfit is. I like it, and that’s all that matters.
“I’ve been to about four anime cosplay events, and my favourite thing is seeing other people as enthusiastic about what we love around me. It’s a small-ish community, but it makes me happy.”
Through his art exhibitions, Onoja Jacob is promoting peace among communities in Jos, North-Central Nigeria.
One time, they measured me, and apparently, I wasn’t up to 5’8, so the guy asked me what I was doing there. I was like, “I’m 5’8”. And he was like, “You’re 5’7.7. Please, get out of here”. God, I cried that day.
“I want people to feel things they didn’t even think they could until they saw or heard my art. Everybody wants to go mainstream. But I don’t just want to blow, I want people to have a purpose once they experience my work. It may sound like a lot of pressure to put on oneself, but it’s what’s keeping me going.” @effytheartist
Vocal lessons are actually very powerful. It’s not just what it does for your voice. Being armed with the right techniques, knowing how to tilt your neck or lift your chest to achieve a certain sound, is the most valuable skill a musician can have.
Award-winning visual artists, Gbenga Adeku, Dotun Popoola and Samuel Anyanwu are converting Nigeria’s plastic, metal and textile waste into beautiful art and getting global recognition for their work.
“Trees and rivers surround where I live — it’s very serene. I realise I can’t do the whole hustle culture Lagos life demands. I desperately want to live a quiet life, and I’m trying my best to. Everything I do aligns with that. I write and make adire, and they both only require creativity.”
“Olive is very opinionated and strong-willed. In this world, people have opinions and want you to have those same opinions. I’m working on finding my voice and being more confident in who I am. And I learnt that from her character.” – @jeieldaminaofficial
“I like to experiment with odd, abstract elements. I center my work in nature, using exaggerated colours and strange lighting to create an ‘otherworldly’ experience. It’s all very avant-garde.” @bry0y00
“My art funds my art most times. I’m not where I want to be, but this year has been good, and I’m grateful. My dream is to live off my art.“
“The biggest misconception people have is my recipes are expensive to recreate. I’m 22, living alone, and I can’t buy expensive things. It goes back to people’s misinterpretation of healthy living. That’s why I’m constantly educating people” @Farreeedah
“There’s a space that needs to be filled with rebellious and irreverent things, not just the status quo. And rock’s subject matter is taking down the system”.
“I make art. I’ve always admired artists, but I didn’t know how to paint or draw, so tufting was my opportunity to be an artist. I didn’t even think twice.” @uzo_xx
“I’d just watched this K-drama called Today’s Webtoon. The main character’s dad was helping her make big decisions in her life, unwilling to listen to what she wanted, and I could relate to that struggle.” @_sandychics
“I don’t review books for authors in Nigeria anymore because they don’t take criticism well. They also like to pay, and I don’t like getting paid so I don’t feel obligated to write a nice review.” – @creepyshelah
African creatives are finding a new audience among the youth, who according to the latest Africa No Filter report have grown their proclivity for local content.
“As a storyteller, the best way to tell stories is to become a safe space for those stories. You have to work on building trust, but you also need to create boundaries so you don’t get overwhelmed in the process.”
With the growing use of blockchain technology, African artists are harnessing its benefits to create communities of sellers and boost their creations in a global marketplace.
For this week’s creator spotlight, Elizabeth Adedeji spoke to us about how she fell in love with crocheting and the work that goes into making a crochet wedding dress.
“People kept saying, ‘This sport is for boys. Na man thing you dey do.’ Like, guy, I just want to have fun.”
“I want to get to a point where all my doubts are eliminated because I know I’m great at this, but I’ve also invested the time and effort to be better. In the meantime, I like having a plan B to fall back on.” — @ayosdoodles
“Any time I finish a tattoo, I have the biggest smile on my face. Sometimes, I’m so jealous of the clients because I wish I had their tattoo on my body.”
“I got into mukbangs because I love food. Food for me is better than love. It’ll never break your heart.” @mityasfooddiary
“I bought a pencil cactus, and it gave me a sense of purpose. I went from not wanting to wake up each morning to caring for my plants and being happy to see them do well.”- @plantboyng
“I think of my music as healing. It’s me putting forward the darkest, most uncomfortable parts of my humanity. It helps me feel less alone, and that’s the basis of my spirituality.” – @TheLoliaba
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