ART ACTIVISM AND POLICE BRUTALITY IN NIGERIA: LEMI GARIOGWU’S ARTISTIC PORTRAYAL OF FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI’S ALBUM JACKET

Abstract

Brutality has been a conspicuous menace for decades among the officers of the police force in Nigeria. Several measures have been introduced to criticize disrespect for human values, oppression, apathy, pain, suffering, callousness, atrocities, political subjugation, unbearable government agenda, and infringement on the fundamental human rights of the people. However, this excesses still persists amidst the law enforcement officers. This study focuses on the illustrative Portrayal of Fela’s music philosophy by Lemi Ghariogwu through the eye lenses of art activism, and police brutality in Nigeria. Selected album jacket illustrations by Lemi Ghariokwu that resonate with Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s lyrics form the concern of this study. The study hinges on deconstructionist theory in engaging polysemous visual representations to interrogate socio-political and economic impetus in Nigeria. Visual elements are engaged in this study as a form of disengagement from other stereotyped artistic genres for the campaign against police brutality. Art activism was engaged as metaphoric, iconic, or symbolic constructs within a socio-political context for political communication. The purposive sampling technique was employed in the selection of the visual imagery analyzed, with the criteria for selection being situated in the context of the socio-political themes. The paper concludes that economic and socio-political oppression in Nigeria as portrayed through the engagement with album jacket of Fela’s songs needs urgent attention. There is a need for a total reformation of the police structure and service to ensure a better policing system in Nigeria.