With the increasing popularity and relevance of social media, the way we tell and share our stories has changed. Now, it is relatively easier to have a voice and be heard, compared to the old days of traditional media. This is mostly a good thing, as voices that would otherwise have been silent, are now being given a platform.
A quick example of this revolution is the media account Humans of New York, run by American photographer Brandon Stanton. The account focuses on capturing and telling the stories of relatively average and regular humans. What sets it apart from the crowd is that the people featured are those who we would otherwise walk past, without stopping to think for a minute of the stories they could tell.
Last year, Brandon visited Nigeria and other parts of Africa and as usual, shared stories of the people he encountered. This put a great deal of Nigerians in their feelings, as these stories were so relatable, covering the things that Nigerians see, hear and experience on a regular basis. Among these stories, a particular one stands out: The Story of Jekein Lato-Unah
Maybe it’s her attention-capturing artwork, maybe it’s the bit about refusing to sell to Yahoo-Boys (internet frauds), or maybe it’s a combination of both. Regardless, the story of this multidisciplinary artist stuck. Her art is realistic both in how it is drawn and the story it tells, filled with symbols that mirrors the society she has found herself in.
With this in mind, it’s not surprising that her work got the attention of both Brandon and the Yahoo-Boys in her story. It is also not surprising that she refused to sell her work to yahoo-boys because it is apparent that she creates from a heart with blazing passion, rather than simply with the motivation just to make money.
Check out some of her impressive artwork…
Photo credit: IG | Jekein
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