Art: Ikemesit Nkereuwem-Tim empowers the Youth with sneaker fest

The world changed in 2020. Beyond COVID 19, there were other exemplary initiatives across Nigeria. One of which, Sneaker Fest falls into. It was held in the last quarter of that year. It has been a yearly ritual with the increase in crowd, engagement and activities.

Sneaker Fest is a festival aimed at empowering youths through Fashion, Art, Music, Sports etc. The event is aimed at encouraging youths to be more entrepreneurial in their thoughts and aspirations.

Sneaker Fest engages the youth in various levels, from music to sport and later Art. It has been a form of artistic and creativity development for the Nigerian youth, Ikemesit Nkereuwem-Tim, the convener is gradually making some laudable impact in his own little way. Devoid from government support, Sneaker Fest has been able to stand stronger as each edition comes up.

Art is a broad topic. For the various editions of this event, they have been more pronounced on Graffiti, face painting, live painting and drawing. Beyond bringing artiste like Davido’s former signee Dremo, R&B head, Wurld, BET nominated rapper Ladipoe, and others as guest, Sneaker Fest has also become the meeting point for budding artists. They meet to leverage on each other’s strength, connect and ever evolving creative acumen.

In the 2020 edition, Art by Bello was on hand to take art enthusiasts on Graffiti, he delivers a crash course on what it takes to be a great and cool Graffiti artist. It was an eye opener for some of the participants. Beyond the crash course, he also shows them the ways of selling or auctioning an art.

Sneaker Fest takes it up from there in the following year (2021) by having a drawing competition in which the winner walks up with the sum of two hundred thousand Naira. Aduke Busayo, the winner, was full of smiles when she got the cash.

Ikemesit Nkereuwem-Tim, the convener of Sneaker Fest who is also a songwriter, rapper and sound engineer, continues to stand on the aim and objective of this event, rather than add to it, he has been opening layer to each side of the event, the fashion, art and music is heralded with new side on each year, he is passionate about add value to the youth via this initiative. Beyond entertaining them, he has made it a mark of duty to give the fans some economic benefits. And one of the ways is through Art.

More than seventy percent of Nigerian people are the youth and with the current economic downturn, it has become imperative for the skillful and talented one to be helped, coached, orientated and given economic benefit. Sneaker Fest has been able to do this and more. What comes next? It’s important to introduce more initiative in the Art part of the event, perhaps, there will be more art educators, more industry experts should be invited. In a way, it gives more creative opportunities to showcase themselves, help their family, and contribute to society.

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