#MoneyvsMe 20; A Nigerian Artist’s Struggles
Every week, TNT wants to know how people move money in and out of their lives. Certain stories will be challenging,while others will be extravagant. It will always show something new to learn.
A Nigerian Artist’s Struggles. I graduated in 2018 from a well-known university in Nigeria with a degree in fine arts. I was really excited and driven, set on carving out my place in the Nigerian art scene. I’ve always had a deep love for painting and visual storytelling, and it’s really been the motivation behind my school years. I really thought that with my talent and hard work, I’d be able to find great opportunities to succeed in the lively art scene, especially since I believed it was growing in Nigeria. But the reality I faced after graduation was totally different. I applied to a bunch of galleries, creative agencies, and art organisations, but I kept running into rejection after rejection.
The Nigerian economy really hit hard on a lot of sectors, but the arts took an especially tough blow. While my friends in different areas were landing jobs or starting their own businesses, I found myself doing random gigs that didn’t really connect with what I loved. Sometimes I would sell a piece or earn a little commission, but honestly, it just wasn’t enough to get by. By the end of 2019, things had just gotten worse. My parents, who had always been there for me, were dealing with their own money issues. I decided to take out a loan to kickstart a small art studio. My hope is that by creating a space to showcase my work and collaborate with others, I can bring in some income.
Just when I was about to dive in, the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, totally putting a damper on any plans for business growth. Those next couple of years felt like a loop of debt, disappointment, and disillusionment. The pandemic really shook up almost every part of the economy, making it even tougher to find potential clients or investors in the art world. It feels like my dream of being a successful artist is slipping further away than ever. I had to sell off a lot of my studio gear to tackle my growing debts, and I ended up moving back home to save on living expenses. You can see how my monthly expenses is like
By 2023, Nigeria was really struggling with some tough economic issues, and I started to lose hope for a recovery. When the Tinubu government took office in May 2023, they made some big promises about stabilising the economy and creating job opportunities for young people. But honestly, I still found myself having a tough time. Inflation shot up, making the cost of living tough to handle, and there just weren’t many chances in the creative field. The removal of the fuel subsidy and the sudden drop in the value of the naira have really made it tough to afford even the most basic necessities. I found myself still in debt, struggling to pay back the loan I had taken, and my artwork just wasn’t bringing in the money like it used to.
Here we are in 2024, and I’m just trying to get by with the little I have. I help out by tutoring younger students in drawing and painting on the side. My work comes and goes, and it’s not always reliable, but it keeps me afloat, even if it’s just by a thread. Every day feels like a challenge to pay the rent and put food on the table, but I’m not ready to let go of my passion. I still love art, and even though the economic situation in Nigeria makes it really tough to make a living from it, I keep painting.
I started sharing my work on social media, thinking that maybe one day all my hard work would really pay off. So, here I am, dealing with the whole “Japa syndrome” thing, where a lot of Nigerian youths are heading out of the country in search of better opportunities elsewhere. I find myself thinking about whether to jump on that bandwagon, but moving costs are just too high.
I’m really torn between wanting to keep chasing my passion for art in a place where it feels undervalued and dealing with the tough realities of debt, economic instability, and a government that hasn’t really stepped up to help people like me. Right now, I’m just taking it one day at a time, hoping the economy shifts in my favour while I juggle my debts and cling to the hope that brighter days are ahead.
