So I have been more outdoors than indoors trying to explore what I can about my creative side. I stumbled on this event some weeks back, made for creatives in Nigeria - The Lens for Good Initiative.
It's an initiative geared towards providing mentorship opportunities to upcoming creators in Nigeria and Africa at large, with an aim of changing the narrative of storytelling in Africa.
It is common knowledge that the Western world tells most of our stories for us, howbeit from their perspective. And what's more, we don't even have the resources and and initiative to tell our stories as well as they do. And this is despite the fact that they won't tell our stories better than we would.
I think the average motivated African is mostly trying to get their heads above the waters and make a good living, at the least. We're so preoccupied with that, that we don't see beyond that.
Anyway, before I digress too much, I registered for this programme scheduled to hold in Ibadan. I didn't really anticipate much until I arrived at the venue of the programme at the International Conference Centre in Ibadan.
We first had to register at the registering booth and download a Web app called Lens for Good. This app was to create a community, something sort of like what's happening on Hive communities, where people of like minds can connect and network.
The entrance gallery
The whole setup for the event was massive. So much attention to the design of the event center.
And of course, a lot of gear laying and flying around. I saw predominantly Sony cine-grade cameras capturing the live event, with many other volunteer photographers capturing photos of the event.
After registration, which was free, we were seated to start the event.
The event started around 1pm thereabout with the Nigerian National Anthem sung by Òdèré, a talented singer born and bred in Ìbàdàn.
The talented Òdèré
There were 3 panel sessions featuring 3 sets of high profile people in the media space in Nigeria in each session.
I enjoyed this first session the most, featuring the legendary Nora Awolowo
The discussions centered around matters surrounding redefining storytelling in Nigeria and Africa through the media Lens, especially content creation, including photography and video.
I had no idea who the panelists were until they were called upon. Little did I know some of my favorite people in the film space were there - niyifagbemi and noraawolowo.
There was quite a lot to learn. My favorite sessions were words (paraphrased in my words) from:
- Collaborate for the art, but compete for the business.
- Any collaboration that doesn't push you forward might not be needed.
- Place value on yourself and understand your self-worth.
Whilst growing, do not allow yourself to be used, while being useless to yourself. - Have an identity for your work. Don't be useless to yourself.
The one and only YemiKings
- Network sideways. Your peers on level playing ground can go places together with you. It doesn't always have to be networking upwards. Sometimes the way up is going through the sides.
The Nora Awolowo. In case you did not know, she was the cinematographer for the movie Líṣàbí
- Insure your equipment.
I had never thought of insuring mine. Lypix had an incident in the past where he lost all his equipment and had to start all over. If he had insurance, he would have had less issues to worry about.
Lypix, one of the oldest, yet youngest legends of Photography, whose roots started from the city of Ibadan
- Educate people while entertaining them.
I agree so much this. I feel most content have been watered down to just vibes and fun.
The Niyi Fagbemi. If you ever heard of Ojúde Oba festival that went viral in 2023, this was the man behind the cameras that shot those colorful pictures and videos
I was privileged to get a shot within the flurry of people flocking around him
- Don't pressure yourself to create CONSISTENTLY ALL THE TIME. If you need a break, take it, and the COME BACK to it. That IS CONSISTENCY. Take a chill pill, but never give up!
Hauwa (on the left), everybody's favorite everyday content creator and Ayo Adeagbo (on the right), special assistant to the Nigerian President on Culture and the Creative Economy. He promised some funds to be released as grant loans in a few weeks to months accessible to creatives all over Nigeria, so I think you might want to follow his Instagram page to get updated.
L-R: Lypix, Seun Fakorede (Executive Adviser to the Oyo State Government), and Ayo Adeagbo
There was a lot to talk about, but I'll drop in the live coverage of the event to watch and see for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/live/kxRJKatWPHI?si=ueOC9u3-zGTrJKAC
If you are a creative in Nigeria or Africa, I think this is something you can be part of.
Well, that hasn't been disbursed yet.
However the first step to accessing that is to download the webapp or click this link to get started and engage the community.
From there, further updates will be given on how it's going to happen.
Oh well, the Lens for Good Initiative has come to stay!
I hope we can as Nigerians and Africans truly shape our image and tell our stories to the world on massive scales BY OURSELVES someday.
Till then, keep creating!
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Check it out now as it's still ongoing till the 1st of December 2024!