Danladi Bamaiyi: Twenty-Eight-Year-Old Street Artist Redefining Painting
From iconic Nigerian leaders to celebrated artists, Danladi Bamaiyi’s artwork has left viewers in awe. In an exclusive interview with Chika MEFOR-NWACHUKWU of THE WHISTLER, Danladi opens up about the inspiration behind his striking creations.
When and how did you start street art?
I started street art professionally in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the lockdown, I decided to do something creative and pass a positive message to people. I noticed that despite the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s warning about the virus, some people were not taking it seriously. So, I came up with the idea to paint a mural encouraging people to keep physical distance and always wear a nose mask to avoid contracting or spreading the virus to their loved ones.
Apart from street art, do you work on other types of art?
Apart from street art, I also do contemporary art. I paint commissioned portraits, beautiful abstracts, and residential and commercial paintings. Also, currently, I am working on a series of paintings for my first exhibition next year.
What message do you pass with your artwork?
I intend to pass a message of peace and tolerance. Nigeria has a lot of societal issues; disunity, insecurity, out-of-school children, electoral violence, drug abuse, crime, and corruption. Over the years, I have made hundreds of paintings to address some of these issues and I am working on more. I want to make the world a better place. I want to use street art to address these issues. I want to also inspire the youths that there is dignity in labour. Crime and fraud is not the way. You can make an impact and genuine money through art.
Was your initial motivation your initial motivation for creating street art driven by financial gain or personal passion?
I didn’t start art to make money. Most of my work has been charity work. I started in 2019 and I am still doing it without a sponsor. I have spent so much on this career. It costs a lot to put up a mural. And I thank God I didn’t start it for the money because I would have given up by now. Five years later, it started paying off. Imagine if I had started it for the money, I would have given up a long time ago.
You are well-known on social media now. How did that start?
It started with that painting I did during the pandemic in 2019. Initially, I was doing it for the community. However, I decided to share it online. To my surprise, it went viral. Blogs carried it. It gave me my first feature in a national newspaper, Daily Trust.
Ever since then, I decided to be sharing my work with the social media community and the platform has been really helpful.
How is social media helping your business/passion?
Social media has helped me reach a wider audience. I have gained some commissioned jobs through social media. Also, some of the techniques I learned today were from YouTube. There is so much knowledge online.
How long does it take you to finish an artwork?
It takes me three days to complete a mural. However, it depends on the dimension. If it’s a large wall it will take weeks.
Which of your works has been the most challenging to create?
The work that gave me the most difficulty was the painting I titled ‘Nigeria’s Future, Your Vote.’ It was a painting to encourage Nigerians to vote wisely. It was so big and it made me broke because I spent a lot putting up that mural.
Which of your artworks received the most recognition?
My most recognised work was a painting I did where the three major ethnic groups, Hausa Igbo And Yoruba were eating together. I did it to pass a message of love, peace, brotherhood, and unity in diversity.
Mention some of the paintings you have done.
I made a mural painting to create awareness during the Covid-19 pandemic. I also drew a mural painting of Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala to celebrate her as the first woman and first African to become Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.
I also did a mural painting to encourage Nigeria to get their PVCs ahead of the 2023 general elections. Also, I did one to encourage Nigerians to vote wisely and to remember that we are one Nigeria. There is also the ‘Unity in Diversity’ painting where I painted the three major presidential candidates in the 2023 election who are from the three major ethnic groups; Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
I also did a mural painting tribute to the late prophet T.B. Joshua. There is also one called ‘Nigeria of my dreams’. It is a painting of three Nigerians representing the three major ethnic groups dining together in peace and the spirit of brotherhood.
As a tribute to Mr Ibu, I did a painting celebrating the comic actor who made our childhood memories fun and who inspired a whole generation of movie stars.
I also did an N20 note mural painting for a school, a mural painting tribute to the legendary reggae artist Bob Marley, and a mural painting of some of my favourite afrobeat artists, Tuface Idibia, Wizkid and Davido, among other paintings.
What is your advice to young Nigerians who want to start street art?
My advice to young people is to shun crime and avoid getting rich-quick schemes. They should rather learn skills and be productive. To those who want to start street art, I want them to understand that street art is not popular in this part of the world. However, together we can change the narrative. Having talent is not enough. It’s not going to be easy but with patience and consistency, you will win.
Danladi Bamaiyi: Twenty-Eight-Year-Old Street Artist Redefining Painting is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
