Sef Adeola

Sef Adeola is partly inspired by African cave art and the textile traditions of Yoruba culture. His works use a lot of symbolism and he’s in love with short stories and poetry as much as he loves illustrating them. You can follow him on Twitter: @sefadeola and check his portfolio here: sefadeola.com.ng.

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In most of the works for this issue, Sef tried to capture both specific and general themes that embody each emotion running through the individual stories. The color palettes are the artists’ but they also capture the different moods present in the story, making it a mesh of symbolic hope and perhaps future.

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alherin zaman lafiya

The end of the series, defining and wrapping up the theme of both peace and love, the main and true pillars of Islam.

fata

Fata has a theme of hope and retrospection running through about a young child in a street gang used by politicians in the state for electoral violence and voter intimidation, all these were captured symbolically from the fist pump motif to the electoral box with a ballot paper of “hope” in arabic and the importance of the press. We also have an image of the third force (a woman) in the state that offered not only the teenage boy but the masses of the state hope and a rejection of old and incapable hands. 

gafara

This is somewhat similar but more poetic and heartfelt; the illustration tries to capture the harrowing life of a boy who has been a victim of not just fate but also circumstances. In it is dread, in it is surrender but also a glimmer of hope and more importantly repentance.

soyayya daya

This illustration captures the power of philial love – friendship – condensed to it’s purest state and in this state, no divisions can grow –  be it religion, language, north or south.

soyayya ko ta halin kaka

What does the image of a mended love tell you? Love is like a diamond, when put under pressure it shines, even when it’s edges are rough or threads are sewn into it, it still shines.

soyayya littafi

Female empowerment – especially in regards to education – is a serious concern to me. In this illustration I capture a young woman saying no to romantic advances and yes to education, it may sound trite but it is true – a woman is a nation.

tsaba na soyayya

The image of a mind where fruits of love grow is an important one. For my mother used to tell me that you can give what you don’t have. If you have hate, you would give hate. If you have love, you would give love.

yan uwa

This illustration describes itself, it is the bliss of peace, a harmony, like the sky and sun, none is dominant, and both have utmost respect and admiration for each other. It is an ideal of peace but in a casual, comfortable way.

zaman lafiya

The hand symbol is famous for peace. The white dove also, and the olive branch motif in the background; the color palette is inspired by clear skies and it all ties into one single, central, story: peace.

zaman lafiyya ne amsar

Let this illustration be a riddle, what does it tell you? Note the dove is flying out of a bullet casing.