TY Bello on starting out as an artist

TY Bello.

 

By Akintayo Abodunrin

Photographer and musician TY Bello’s message to the graduating students was: “Talent is not enough. The greatest brand is you. Never be afraid to dream big, when you think you are getting it right, that your brand is recognised, that’s the time to innovate.”

The ‘Green Land’ singer offered the wisdom nuggets as the keynote speaker during the graduation ceremony of students of the Creative Enterprise Programme of the British Council, Pan- African University (Lagos) and the University of Glamorgan (United Kingdom) held at the premises of Pan-African University, Ajah, Lagos, on Friday, February 5.

The famous portrait photographer who spoke extemporaneously touched on many issues during her interaction with the students. Bello shared insights on how to handle rejection, allowing the students to draw from her personal experiences. “I’ve had many doors literally and figuratively slammed in my face but rejection is not a bad thing. It’s a call to work differently or in a higher way; it’s an avenue for self introspection,” she said. The artist added, “If I have done it the way I should have and the door is still slammed, then I decide it’s time to go to another door. Challenges shape you as a business person and also shape your personality.”

The former member of music group KUSH and erstwhile member of the photography collective, Depth of Field - also spoke about charging clients. She disclosed that she charged minimally when she started out but later decided to shoot only high net worth individuals and let her works speak for her.

She didn’t fail to warn the students, a number of who are engaged in creative assignments, that the going would be rough initially. Relating how she became a photographer and her transition to portrait photography, Bello said, “I became a photographer because I like people but launching out as a portrait photographer was tough.” She lost clients because she rejected weddings and other social engagements. It got to a point that she started begging her husband for money. The singer however persevered. “You need to be focussed,” she stressed to the students.

TY Bello wasn’t the only one who spoke with the students. Country Director, British Council Nigeria, David Higgs and some faculty of the Pan-African University also chipped in words of wisdom.

It wasn’t all speeches at the occasion. There were film presentations as well as performances. On air radio personality, Gbemileke Oyinsan read a poem sent in by Kennedy Izuruke who couldn’t attend the ceremony, while Gbenga Akintokun displayed his mastery of the saxophone. Higgs, Bello and Emewo Biakole, Dean, School of Media and Communication of the Pan-African University presented certificates to the students.

Higgs expressed happiness with the success of the programme after the ceremony. “I think the progress is excellent but I also think the programme still has to evolve and develop further. What is really good about the programme is that it is attracting the right kind of participants. It’s the people who do have creative talents, they have identified what their skills are and they are looking for direction. So, from that point of view, I’m really happy about the programme.

“On the other side, I think the programme is still in a sense new. It’s a new kind of programme, a new kind of training and it’s a kind of training that you need to differentiate from the MBA in the university because these people are self employed or working in very small companies of their own and the nature of training is different. So, I’m really happy about it but I think it can continue to develop and evolve.”

He however admits there are teething problems. “It wouldn’t be a good programme if it didn’t have problems along the way. So, I will say they are generally positive problems. This programme is not just operating in Nigeria; it is in a number of African countries as well. Obviously, we are trying to get a common curriculum, common standard; you are trying to get different institutions to work together. Obviously, there have been stumbling blocks but I don’t see that as negative problems.”

source: 234next.com