This is a painting of my friend, Avivah Okoisor, who was able to attend the #ENDSARS protest against police brutality in Nigeria held in London, England back in 2020. I gave the skin a dull tone with the gouache to exaggerate the tiredness of the youth. The newspaper headlines in the background are headlines from a 2018 article, depicting that we are still experiencing a cycle of corruption and stagnation in Nigeria.

It is up to us, the Nigerian Youth, to make Nigeria experience the change which we crave. I was given inspiration to name the artwork ‘IroNigeria’ by combining the two words ‘irony’ and ‘Nigeria,’ due to the irony that, even according the the poster she is holding, Nigeria is said to be the ‘poverty capital of the world with the highest paying politicians.’

Dimension: 11.7 x 16.5 inches