Tuesday, August 11, 2026 · Updated Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Jos, Nigeria
Street-level draftsmanship is experiencing a quiet renaissance, driven by the global resonance of contemporary African music. On simple sheets of white paper, artists are using everyday ballpoint pens to create incredibly detailed tributes that serve as both striking portraits and cultural archives.
The video pans across two pieces of artwork on a wooden surface. The artwork is drawn with blue and red ink. The left piece is a portrait of a man with glasses and dreadlocks, with text elements that include "WIZKID", "MUSIC", "AFROBEAT ICON", "AFRICA", "MORAYO", and "STARBOY". A smaller portrait of the same man is also present. The right piece is a portrait of another man with braided hair, featuring various doodles and text fragments such as "6god", "LIFE ART TAKE CARE", and "WHY NOT". Both pieces appear to be detailed and intricate drawings.
Jos, Nigeria · Aug 11, 2026, 12:05 AM · 20.3k attention
The technique relies on meticulous cross-hatching and a restricted color palette, often utilizing only blue and red ink. Every empty space surrounding the central figure is filled with hand-lettered text, tracing song titles, birthdates, and geographic nods from Lagos to international charts. It is a dense, graphic style that feels both immediate and highly disciplined.
The video shows a close-up of a pen-and-ink drawing of Wizkid. The drawing is in progress, with some areas more detailed than others. The main portrait of Wizkid is rendered in shades of blue and black ink, with a lot of cross-hatching and shading to create depth and texture. He is wearing glasses and has tattoos on his neck. To the right of the main portrait, there is a smaller, less detailed drawing of Wizkid. Various words and phrases related to Wizkid are scattered around the portrait, such as "WIZKID," "STARBOY," "MUSIC," "AFROBEAT ICON," and "AFRICA." There is also a section with biographical information including his full name, AYODEJI IBRAHIM BALOGUN, and birthdate, JULY 16, 1990. The drawing appears to be on a white surface, possibly paper. The video is shot from a slightly elevated angle, focusing on the artwork.
Jos, Nigeria · Aug 11, 2026, 12:03 AM · 12.7k attention
These drawings do more than just replicate recognizable faces. They map the complex web of collaborations and milestones that have defined the genre's modern era, incorporating flags, logos, and lyrical references directly into the composition.
This is a pen and ink drawing on white paper, depicting a portrait of a person wearing glasses and a beaded necklace. Text and smaller illustrations surround the central figure. To the left, text reads "RITH ODEJI IBRAHIM JALO GUN JULY 16, 1990". Below this is a small red illustration of a gramophone with "BROWN SKIN GIRL" written next to it. Above the central figure's head, the word "WIZKID" is written in large letters, with "MUSIC" to the right. To the right of the central figure, the words "AFROBEAT ICON" are written vertically, followed by "AFRICA" below. The word "MORAYO" is written diagonally between the central figure and a smaller depiction of a person to the right. At the bottom right, a red and blue star shape contains the word "STARBOY". The drawing style is a combination of cross-hatching and solid lines. There is no indication of the city of Jos, Nigeria in the image.
Jos, Nigeria · Aug 11, 2026, 12:02 AM · 0.3k attention
The image is a close-up, overhead shot of a hand-drawn illustration on white paper, presented on a light brown, wood-grained surface. The artwork features portraits of two male musicians, Wizkid and Drake, rendered in blue and red ink. Wizkid is depicted on the left, with text labels such as "OLUWA LONI," "BIRTH AYODEJI IBRAHIM BALOGUN JULY 16, 1990," and "STARBOY." Drake is on the right, with his signature braided hair clearly visible. The background of the illustration is filled with various doodles, symbols, song titles, and references related to the musicians and their careers, including the Nigerian flag. The paper is slightly creased and bent in some areas. The wood-grained surface suggests an indoor setting, possibly a floor or table. There is no indication of the city of Jos, Nigeria, or any specific urban environment within the image.
Jos, Nigeria · Aug 11, 2026, 12:04 AM · 0.1k attention
Ultimately, this style of portraiture represents a vibrant form of grassroots documentation. By bypassing traditional gallery spaces, these creators use physical surfaces and digital sharing to showcase highly personal, technically impressive records of a musical movement.
The image is a drawing on white paper, featuring a portrait of the musician Wizkid. The drawing is done with blue and red ink. The central figure is a large, detailed sketch of Wizkid wearing glasses and a necklace. To the top right, the Nigerian flag is depicted. Various text elements surround the portrait, including "WIZKID", "MUSIC", "AFROBEAT ICON", "AFRICA", "LASGIDI", "BILLBOARD", "ONE DANCE (DRAKE, '016", "BROWN SKIN GIRL", and "MORAYO". There is also a smaller, secondary sketch of Wizkid to the right of the main portrait. The text "STARBOY" is prominently displayed at the bottom of the drawing. The drawing appears to be a fan tribute or artwork. There is no indication of the city of Jos, Nigeria, or any specific location within it.
The video pans across two pieces of artwork on a wooden surface. The artwork is drawn with blue and red ink. The left piece is a portrait of a man with glasses and dreadlocks, with text elements that include "WIZKID", "MUSIC", "AFROBEAT ICON", "AFRICA", "MORAYO", and "STARBOY". A smaller portrait of the same man is also present. The right piece is a portrait of another man with braided hair, featuring various doodles and text fragments such as "6god", "LIFE ART TAKE CARE", and "WHY NOT". Both pieces appear to be detailed and intricate drawings.
The video shows a close-up of a pen-and-ink drawing of Wizkid. The drawing is in progress, with some areas more detailed than others. The main portrait of Wizkid is rendered in shades of blue and black ink, with a lot of cross-hatching and shading to create depth and texture. He is wearing glasses and has tattoos on his neck. To the right of the main portrait, there is a smaller, less detailed drawing of Wizkid. Various words and phrases related to Wizkid are scattered around the portrait, such as "WIZKID," "STARBOY," "MUSIC," "AFROBEAT ICON," and "AFRICA." There is also a section with biographical information including his full name, AYODEJI IBRAHIM BALOGUN, and birthdate, JULY 16, 1990. The drawing appears to be on a white surface, possibly paper. The video is shot from a slightly elevated angle, focusing on the artwork.
This is a pen and ink drawing on white paper, depicting a portrait of a person wearing glasses and a beaded necklace. Text and smaller illustrations surround the central figure. To the left, text reads "RITH ODEJI IBRAHIM JALO GUN JULY 16, 1990". Below this is a small red illustration of a gramophone with "BROWN SKIN GIRL" written next to it. Above the central figure's head, the word "WIZKID" is written in large letters, with "MUSIC" to the right. To the right of the central figure, the words "AFROBEAT ICON" are written vertically, followed by "AFRICA" below. The word "MORAYO" is written diagonally between the central figure and a smaller depiction of a person to the right. At the bottom right, a red and blue star shape contains the word "STARBOY". The drawing style is a combination of cross-hatching and solid lines. There is no indication of the city of Jos, Nigeria in the image.
The image is a close-up, overhead shot of a hand-drawn illustration on white paper, presented on a light brown, wood-grained surface. The artwork features portraits of two male musicians, Wizkid and Drake, rendered in blue and red ink. Wizkid is depicted on the left, with text labels such as "OLUWA LONI," "BIRTH AYODEJI IBRAHIM BALOGUN JULY 16, 1990," and "STARBOY." Drake is on the right, with his signature braided hair clearly visible. The background of the illustration is filled with various doodles, symbols, song titles, and references related to the musicians and their careers, including the Nigerian flag. The paper is slightly creased and bent in some areas. The wood-grained surface suggests an indoor setting, possibly a floor or table. There is no indication of the city of Jos, Nigeria, or any specific urban environment within the image.
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Jos, Nigeria
