How a Twitter hashtag ignited exhibition of Nigerian indigenous creative arts

shakirudeen taiwo

March 7, 2018 3:00 PM

This campaign all started as an innocent tweet #WeAreNigerianCreatives, and the response led to an exhibition of classical arts and creative works by Nigerians.

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 creating an exhibition of creative works of Nigerians.

Bunmi started a hashtag #WeAreNigerianCreatives, and the response was stunning. He remarked about the outcome of his campaign.

[No available link text]

“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.”

[No available link text]

This is the magic hand of social media

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.

shakirudeen taiwo

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng