Leveraging Instagram as a hub for creativity

In the ever-changing world of social media, Instagram shines as a lively platform bursting with creativity. It started as a place to share photos, but now it’s grown into a bustling hub of artistic expression, covering all sorts of creative forms and pushing storytelling limits visually.

With over 2 billion people using it monthly, this platform lets creators reach a huge audience worldwide. Its features make it a one-stop shop for creators, attract so many people from all over the world, and offer many opportunities and experiences.

In Nigeria, Instagram has become a home for creators who want to find, rediscover or rebrand themselves. It is a spark that ignites and amplifies the creative energy of creators. This platform has cool tools like reels, collaboration options, search and explore, and stories, where creators can get super creative by adding music and trying different storytelling styles. Instagram is a huge playground for the imagination, where inventors can let loose and do whatever they want.

Instagram is an enabler of social trends that promote working together, boosting creativity, and connecting people.

For example, Eniola Adeoluwa started a trend in December 2023. The festive-themed reel got a lot of attention, leading to many creative responses, including one from Hollywood star Lupita Nyong’o. She used the same audio to make her video, reaching even more people with over 369k likes and 9k comments.

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Maryam Apaokagi, a Nigerian comedian popularly known as Taaooma, is also an example of a digital creator leveraging Instagram for international collaborations.

In March 2024, she collaborated with Terry Crews, an American actor, television host, and former football player, to produce a comedy skit. By leveraging Instagram’s collaborative feature, the post attracted over 14,000 comments.

Although Instagram is known for setting trends, it’s more than just a place for fun. It makes people feel like they belong and helps them share experiences with others. Instagram has become a lively space where famous folks and creators team up to bring fun challenges to their fans worldwide.

This helps create unique and inclusive exchanges of culture.

Instagram’s social media challenges link artists with diverse audiences, helping them connect. Some of Nigeria’s viral Instagram challenges, like Kizz Daniel’s “Twe Twe” Challenge, Nasboi’s “Umbrella” Challenge and Broda Shaggi’s “Ijo Loka Challenge,” have helped artists reach their fans.

This is a unique way for creators like them to connect with existing fans and find new ones. With Instagram’s improving editing tools, these challenges become even more successful.

Instagram keeps adding new tools and features, but it’ll always be a place for artists to express themselves endlessly. For them, Instagram is a virtual studio where they can team up with people from all over the world. Together, they create artworks that reflect their imaginations. It is an exciting mix of talents pushing boundaries, driven by endless inspiration, cool tools, and a supportive community. This sparks their creativity and inspires them to share it with everyone.

Many up-and-coming African creators on Instagram are starting trends in different areas. There are the “IG Besties” who spread good vibes, the “Raising the Bar” innovators who push limits, the “Unfiltered Creativity” experts who introduce new ideas, and “On the Map” influencers who show off what’s cool. Their different voices make Instagram a place where people can be themselves and show off their creativity for real.

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Together, they show how diverse and exciting Instagram is for creators.

Meta recently launched the Creators of Tomorrow campaign, spotlighting five up-and-coming creators in Nigeria who are bringing fresh creativity to Instagram. These talents include Layi Wasabi, who’s an award-winning content creator and comedian; TobeSZN, a young fashion and lifestyle creator; Ifeoluwa Afolabi, also known as Iphe, a talented digital creator; Rodney Odinakachi, a multi-talented entertainer, and Tiwa Pever, a dancer and choreographer.

The Creators of Tomorrow program celebrates these emerging stars who inspire a new wave of creative content online and build a community on Instagram.

The future looks bright for creators in Africa. As more aspiring African creators get internet access, leverage Meta’s family of apps and find new ways to showcase their talents and connect with audiences worldwide, we expect to see even more creativity and success in the creator industry.

The next time you open Instagram, think about this: it’s not just about following trends or showing off perfect lives. It’s a place where creators always change things up, push boundaries, and inspire new ideas in themselves and others.