There’s a lot to say about the rollercoaster ride that was 2020. From #EndSars to #BlackLivesMatter, and everything in between, it felt almost impossible to get off the spinning carousel of chaos. During these chaotic moments, art can offer us a much-needed escape from our current realities and transport us into different worlds. For Nigerian-American multidisciplinary artist Wavy The Creator, that world is a world of hope, and she’s teamed up with Singapore-based creative studio Tell Your Children (TYC) to create it through the audiovisual ‘This War, This World’.
The global creatives were brought together for this special project through HUH, a website and global platform that specializes in linking creatives from all over the world for content collaborations to reflect how their cities are feeling. Its first collaboration featured Toronto-based musician Luna Li and LA-based director Rosanna Peng. Together, they created a music video that explored their interpretation of the mood ‘ethereal’ from the perspectives of their respective cities.
For HUH’s second collaboration, Wavy The Creator and TYC are addressing the disquieting impacts of violence taking place in Nigeria and across the world. Conceptualized during the #EndSars protests, ‘This War, This World’ is a song that encapsulates the mood of hope within the madness and serves as a reminder to love and respect one another during these challenging times. The lyrics, “the sun will rise again, even though the rain’s been pouring down” open up the song, inviting listeners into a world of possibilities and dreams. It’s akin to an out of body experience, heightened by the accompanying graphics which represent specific sounds heard in the song – it’s an immersive musical experience.
“Last year during the #EndSars protests was the first time I saw the younger generation come together for a cause to make Nigeria better”, says Wavy The Creator speaking to FEMME MAG, “Even though I wasn’t in Nigeria at the moment, it’s what inspired the song. I was thinking about the power we have in coming together for that one common goal. It made me feel hopeful”.
Mirroring the feelings of togetherness can be seen in the collaboration between Wavy The Creator and TYO, who worked through time differences to create a project that is reflective of both cultures. Bridging the gap between time and space, ‘This War, This World’ serves as a timely reminder during a time of lockdowns, separations and isolations the increasing possibilities for connection and hope in a global world. And If there’s anything we could all do with right now, it’s hope.
