In the midst of impending celebrations and national pride, there exists a haunting reality, one that defies the joyful veneer of Nigeria’s upcoming Independence Day. In this evocative contemporary photoshoot, we lay bare the unspoken hardships that silently grip the nation, like invisible shackles on the very spirit of independence.
At the right of the frame, a brown stool, draped half way in a small red tablecloth, bears witness to an aching hunger. Upon it, a plate cradles the remnants of half a slice of bread, a single bite taken, symbolic of the scarcity wrought by the soaring cost of food. It is a harsh reminder that, for many, the basic necessity of sustenance remains agonizingly out of reach.
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At the heart of the frame a table : divided into three compartments tells a tale of its own. To the right, a small white keg, filled only to 5% of its capacity, bears the inscription “Increase in Price of Petrol.” It speaks volumes of the struggle to afford even the most essential commodities, where a full jar of fuel is a luxury few can afford.
In the center, a small blackboard carries the ominous message “Increase in School Fee,” accompanied by scattered files of final year projects and broken chalk, symbols of a nation’s youth grappling with the cruel reality of soaring education costs, dreams deferred by financial barriers.
To its left, a transparent ballot bag marked with “INEC” and “Votes Vanished” reveals the painful truth of manipulated mandates and a voiceless electorate. A pair of scissors within the bag serves as a stark reminder of the democratic wounds inflicted on a nation that yearns for fair representation.
Behind the table, a dark-skinned model stands resolute, draped in a white dress and her hair painted green, white, and green—the colors of the Nigerian flag. Her scream echoes the collective anguish of a population caught in the relentless grip of hardship and uncertainty. Holding two broken pencils, she covers her ears, symbolizing the fear and vulnerability that pervade a society where voices are often stifled.
To her right, an apple box with a candle flickering atop it underscores the fragility of life. Suspended above is an empty frame, sticked to in its center is the picture of the late Music Star Imole aka Mobad, sticked and not framed because its impermanent and can easily be anybody next! As He like so many others is a casualty of a society plagued by corruption, insecurity and complete disregard of the least of basic human right. It serves as a grim reminder that, in a country fraught with turmoil, no one is immune to the specter of tragedy.
Finally, the backdrop—a wall cloaked in newspapers, the headlines chronicling the nation’s turmoil, alluding to the relentless exposure of Nigeria’s suffering. At its center, a Nigerian flag, its once vibrant green hues now marred by stains of blood, symbolizes the collective pain of a nation grappling with internal strife.
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In “African Giant Indeed,” we confront the paradoxical existence of a nation on the cusp of celebration, yet ensnared in the throes of hardship. The visual narrative underscores the urgency of addressing the myriad challenges that threaten the essence of true independence and freedom, urging us to look beyond the surface and confront the stark realities that define our nation.
Alabede Mayowa Akinwale
Photography and Poetry and Creative Director/Artist: Alabede Mayowa Akinwale @itsmayieve
Hair and Makeup : Amina Carew @mansapanache
Model: Soledolu Kehinde @baybie_kayy
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