Sly Megida is a Nigerian visual artist, filmmaker, and creative director redefining the language of contemporary African art. Born and raised in Ojo, Lagos, Sly built his path outside traditional art systems, sharpening his skills through curiosity, discipline, and observation. His practice stretches across realism, abstraction, photography, digital art, and film, forming what he calls the Afropop movement — a mission to tell African stories with modern energy and cultural depth.
Sly is also the founder of the Orange Initiative, a creative platform spotlighting emerging African voices through exhibitions and collaborative showcases. His work operates at the intersection of culture, community, and visual storytelling, grounded in the belief that art carries the power to shift narratives and build systems.
Now, he is preparing to debut Black Magic, his second major body of work. A collection rooted in identity, resilience, and the spiritual power of being African, Black Magic explores self-knowledge, inner greatness, and the idea of rising through adversity. For Sly, this project is not just art — it is a message and a movement.
Q: Who is Sly and how did you become an artist?
SLY: Sly is short for Sylvester. I am Igbo from Enugu, but born and raised in Lagos. Art has always been a part of me from a young age. After university, I decided to pursue art fully because I understood it deeply. I felt called to add structure to the African art space. At that time, I did not see African visual artists around me; I only saw musicians, actors, fashion designers. I felt if I had this gift, I should use it to build something and inspire others. For me, art is a tool to impact society, change narratives, collaborate globally, and create unity.
Q: At that time, you could not find artists around you. Who then inspired you?
SLY: International artists like Da Vinci and Picasso inspired me, but Andy Warhol shaped my direction. He did not just paint; he understood how creativity can shape culture, business, branding, media. That made me see how I could bring those ideas here and use art to tell African stories powerfully.
Q: You are influenced by creatives outside visual art, for example Don Jazzy. How does someone like him inspire you?
SLY: Because it is not just talent, it is a business. Seeing Don Jazzy build systems around his gift inspires me. We have bills, and to be great you must put in hours, so you cannot chase money elsewhere and still grow your craft. He built a structure that earns and sustains itself. I want to do the same in art. Writers, painters, sculptors, everyone should be able to earn from their creativity. Art is not just drawing, it is entertainment and a business. His mindset inspires me.
Q: You built your skills through drive and self-learning. How did you get to the point of hosting exhibitions like your Orange series?
SLY: I locked in and learned first. I researched, read, and put hours in daily. I shaped my skill the way I wanted to be seen. After years, I presented myself, networked, and used social media like a gallery.
I am a social observer. My environment and life inspire my work. I tell stories, not just make beautiful things. That confidence made me reach out to brands and people. Knowing I have a community pushes me to do better and share my message.
Q: What has been your biggest challenge so far in building this scene?
SLY: Finance. Ideas exist, tech exists, but funding systems around art is hard. Music for instance, has shown that creativity is an investment. We need that in art too. If funded properly, art can employ managers, writers, curators, legal teams. Art is a business that can power many careers. We need to stop seeing artists as “just artists.” We need to fund the ecosystem and build global narratives for African art.
Q: Tell me about the Black Magic project.
SLY: Black Magic is my latest body of work. It celebrates Black identity, resilience, and greatness. It is Pan-African. It is about knowing yourself and understanding your power as a Black person. It has ten works so far, like an album.
Q: How is it different from the Orange series?
SLY: Orange is for emerging creatives. It is a group exhibition bringing together art, music, fashion, poetry. Black Magic is personal — a solo body of work.
Q: How do you hope Black Magic will affect people?
SLY: I want people to experience their inner greatness. Despite chaos in Africa, we have not broken. We become gold through fire. I want people to see Black Magic and feel, “I have power inside me.” It is about reconnecting with identity, not abandoning culture for acceptance.
Q: How do you think your work will influence the Nigerian art scene in general?
SLY: I believe it already has, but I want to do it globally. Young people have gifts but do not see structures. If we create boldly, we give them confidence.
Q: What changes do you hope to see for artists in Nigeria?
SLY: Artists should stop creating only for attention. Tell stories, record history, preserve our culture. If we stand strong and create deeply, the audience will shift how they see us. Art is more than aesthetics. It is documentation, power, and identity.
