More than sixty poets, musicians, and creatives gathered in Lagos on August 9 for Living In The Epiphany, a showcase organised by The ArtiMetrics to highlight the intersection of music and poetry.
Supported by the British Council’s Creative Showcase Programme and Jefferson Hospitality, the event featured performances and a panel discussion on how Nigerian creatives can sustain their careers in a challenging industry.
The panel, themed “Rhythm and Revenue: Navigating Nigeria’s Creative Economy,” brought together spoken word artist and lawyer Cynthia Ekeka, talent manager and music business consultant Lanre Lawal, and poet Adebola Rez Afolabi, with moderation by writer and curator Kamnelechukwu Obasi.
Ekeka urged artists to treat their work as a business saying:
“Keep a portfolio of the work you do and present it properly online to attract better-paying clients
Afolabi stressed the importance of balance, noting that originality and audience awareness are essential to growth. Lawal pointed to collaboration as the cornerstone of his career, adding that creatives prosper when they work together.
Convener Edwin Favour, a spoken word artist and founder of The ArtiMetrics, said the event was designed to spotlight Nigerian creatives and foster unity between emerging and established voices:
“You don’t have to do it all by yourself. Community and collaboration are important to creativity.”
Performers at the showcase echoed that message. Isidinma Nnamdi, also known as Flowers, described the fusion of music and poetry as powerful:
“When you mix music and poetry together, you expect magic. The future is bright for Nigerian creative people with events like this.”
By the close of the day, Living In The Epiphany had fulfilled its aim of creating a space for collaboration and artistry in Lagos.
Photography by Okoye
Photography by Galadimma Lens
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
