The hashtag.. #WeAreNigerianCreatives: took the world by storm on the Twitter social media platform.
How a Twitter hashtag ignited exhibition of Nigerian indigenous creative arts
This campaign all started as an innocent tweet #WeAreNigerianCreatives, and the response led to an exhibition of classical arts and creative works by Nigerians.
First Published: Shakirudeen Taiwo
A Port-Harcourt based artist, Bunmi Olaoye, never thought his innocent tweet would generate the enormous response it got from other artists across the country. This little act later turned out an online exhibition of creative works of Nigerians.
Bunmi started a hashtag #WeAreNigerianCreatives, and the response was stunning. He remarked about the outcome of his campaign.
“I’m trying to reply my non-ending messages,” he told Quartz.
“The #WeAreNigerianCreativeshashtag has given me so much exposure in such a short time with so many people making inquiries. I really think it’s an amazing phenomenon.”
This is actually not the first time social media would make a star out of an unknown Nigerian.
In 2016, Oresegun Olumide became a sensation after his hyper-realist paintings found their ways to the social media. Just last week the legendary Tutu masterpiece by Ben Enwonwu was sold for £1,205,000 at an auction in London.
It is expected that many upcoming artists will consider effective use of social media to promote their work.
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Image copyright DAVID ADAMUImage example David Adamu wey be @afrogodd for Twitter believe say they have created an economy out of a hastag
Nigerians know any chance to showcase thier talent, dem must take it.
Different Nigerian artists, some be photographers, illustrators, took to Twitter to share a better hustle, with the hashtag #WeAreNigerianCreatives.
This is how it all started.
Olaloye Bunmi@gangwolf360
Starting a hashtag to celebrate and appreciate Nigerian creatives
RTs are greatly appreciated! #WeAreNigerianCreatives
End of Twitter post by @gangwolf360
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I’m 18 my name is Chidera and I’m posting more for #WeAreNigerianCreatives
Pls retweet
Thank you
End of Twitter post by @DivineeArts
The hashtag spread like wild fire and people for social media, with many appreciative people retweeting great works of art.
#WeAreNigeriaCreatives bin first start by one Nigerian artist Olaloye Bunmi wey give people rule and regulation on how to use. Even Nigerians abroad were soon joining in.
princess kay@princess_kay__More artwork I did, some this year, some from last. #WeAreNigerianCreatives
End of Twitter post by @princess_kay__
BBC News Pidgin talk to some of di artists wey join body for di #WeAreNigerianCreatives hashtag.
“Some days bin pass wen Olaloye Bunmi start di hashtag, na im we think say make we push di movement. We dey grow di industry and all di support we get na we sef.” Na wetin Yinfaowei Harrison talk.
Image copyrightYINFAOWEI HARRISONImage exampleMost of dem artist teach demsef how to draw
Harrison@tyinfaoweiYinfaowei Harrison here again!! Feel very humbled with all the support on #WeAreNigerianCreatives here is a short project I did last year.
End of Twitter post by @tyinfaowei
David ∞@afrogoddhappy March#giantmode
End of Twitter post by @afrogodd
It appears that social media may be the new art gallery. Traditional art galleries may only be showcasing fine arts, and will shut out the ordinary artist just getting started. Social media is a cheap place to push a person’s hustle, and some have gained sales and commissions for displaying their work free to the world.
Not only visual artists, but writers and photographers have joined in.
Ayo@Osi_lamaShey the #WeAreNigerianCreatives is only for visual artists?
Biko, my name is Ayo. I am a writer. And I’m a Nigerian Creative. #WeAreNigerianCreatives
End of Twitter post by @Osi_lama
Mohini Ufeli@mohinii_uI started shooting sunsets on my mom’s phone when I was about 10.
Over the years I realized I cared about capturing moments, whether at weddings, in portraits, or on the streets. Sometimes it’s moments when #Lagos looks her best.#WeAreNigerianCreatives #MohiniUfeli
End of Twitter post by @mohinii_u
