The country’s photographers reflect on the chaos of 2020 and reveal the stories they want to share over the next 12 months
With the global outbreak of Covid-19, it’s no news that 2020 was a terrible year. The world has seen a lot of social and political shifts over the last 12 months, and Nigeria was no exception; from an unexpected halt within the country’s creative scene – especially the transforming of Lagos most entertaining events like ArtX Lagos, Ake festival and most fashion weeks into virtual affairs – to the greatest political uprising in its recent history.
The End Sars protests, which started on October 8, began after thousands of young Nigerians, who had endured several years of tyranny from the government’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad unit, mustered up the courage to fight back. The protests lasted three weeks but were tragically cut short, ending with a devastating massacre at the Lekki toll gate which saw at least 12 peaceful demonstrators killed.
Nigerian documentary and lifestyle photographers were both at the protests, and have described them as revolutionary. There are hopes that they could happen again but in a much more peaceful way, with no massacres or police violence – just young people trying to fight for a better country.
At the beginning of 2021, AnOther sat with eight Nigerian photographers to discuss what they want their year to be like, and what stories they wish to tell in the wake of the protests.
Chuchu Ojekwe
“I want a year full of breakthroughs. I want to be able to work with clients who share the same objectives and visions as me. I want a year full of remarkable achievements and milestones in my career, so help me God. After going through a year such as the last, I think my stories will be a bit more personal [now]. I wish to tell stories that reflect my own experiences, stories about how myself and every other young person in Nigeria has empowered themselves with the very little we were given. I wish to tell stories of hope, stories that center on love. I’m on a journey of self-discovery and I want to tell stories that show that. I have so much I’d love to achieve but I think using my gift to empower other creatives in Nigeria is my biggest challenge right now, which I hope to achieve.”
Iyesogie Ogieriakhi
“The biggest thing for me is to create work that makes me excited. I want to be intentional about the work I create and stories I tell this year. I have a couple of photo series I’m currently building and working on, which are centred around women and their stories. I am passionate about everything women-centred and I want to reflect that in my work. I want to capture Black joy, love and beauty – and people in their essence.”
Bami
“The End Sars protest was peaceful through and through, until the army showed up. I hope to see more peaceful protests – it’s a citizens’s right in a democracy; it’s part of actively being involved in the governing process. This year my work will focus more on my immediate environment. There are stories everywhere around us, if we pay attention. There were a series of protests across Africa last year protesting human rights violations and we had more indigenous African visual storytellers go out to tell these stories from Africa’s perspective. It was a joy to see and I’ll be doing more of that this year. I hope to achieve some important work; work which will drive conversations and help people learn about what a sane society should be. We’ll see.”
Yagazie Emezi
“This year, I just want to keep taking the stories in my head and turning them into reality. My current story work is deeply personal, lonely and yet, for all – when the time comes. I am not setting any goals, expectations or deadlines for what stories to tell beyond that. I am following whichever direction my mind pulls me in. I hope 2021 allows us to be physically closer again. The best stories can be found that way.”
Adedamola Odetara
“I believe deeply in the ability of art and photography to tell stories, encourage dialogue and inspire social change, so I’ll be using my platform and skills to tell the stories of minorities in Nigeria. I love to see my pictures being published by my favourite magazines so I hope to see more of that this year. 2020 wasn’t the best year for a lot of people, including creatives, so I hope 2021 is better. Bigger commissions, personal projects etc.”
Aisha Ife
“[Last year] it was great to see young people come together, lend their voices and resources in different capacities. We need more protests to fight for that future. [This year] I hope to develop on previous stories, like my project on living with acne and I hope to be more conscious about growing my skills.”
Nengi Nelson
“I was one of the photographers who documented the protests, the peaceful protests. Young people conducted themselves properly, provided money to take care of a multitude of protesters and even cleaned up after themselves. I don’t think it gets any more peaceful than this. That period birthed another form of activism, one where people are educating themselves about their rights, paying attention and speaking up for fellow citizens who find themselves in precarious situations.”
Rachel Seidu
“The loss of life shook everyone to be honest. It’ll take a whole lot of courage for people to come out again. I hope, if and when we do, our requests are granted without any more casualties or loss of life.”