Shege and Sapa is an audio-visual body of work by Nimi Izulu that uses satire to illustrate the life and times of ordinary citizens in post-pandemic Nigeria while drawing references from pre-pandemic politics and pop culture.
‘Shege’ is a curse word in the Hausa language( from Northern Nigeria) that has taken on a new everyday meaning describing discomfort, unpleasant circumstances, heartbreaks, or shame. ‘Sapa’ on the other hand is a pidgin slang that describes being broke or the state of being poor.
In this oeuvre, Nimi uses Sound Installation, Film, Paintings, Sculptures, and new media, to illustrate very relatable ‘Shege’ experiences and those of residents in Nigeria like the trending infidelities of the banking industry, the general infation caused by the hike in fuel prices, and the slimy dating pool in Lagos.
In his afro pop-art style, Nimi summarizes the shege experienced in the past years of the Buhari-led administration by using the Nigeria coat of arms as recurring imagery to reiterate the connection between the message and the country, while visually illustrating and exploring other situations like the low standard of living, police brutality, the End Sars Protests, and the failed covid palliative distribution process.
These works are set to show and premiere on the 10th Of Dec, 23 at the Omenka Art Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria.
For more information about ticket and times kindly send an email to info@nimiizuluart.com or contact Curator, Stephanie Ohwo on