Aisha Augie-Kuta (born 11 April 1980) is a Nigerian photographer and filmmaker based in Abuja.[1][2] She is a Hausa from Argungu Local Government Area in northern Nigeria.[3] She won the award for Creative Artist of the year at the 2011 The Future Awards.[4] Her work spans across documentary, fashion and aerial photography. She uses juxtaposition in her work as her way of pushing the idea that there are always two sides of a story; this comes from her background in photojournalism and Mass Communication. Her personal projects explore issues of gender and identity influenced by her experiences as a female, mixed race and mixed tribe individual who struggled to fit in earlier in life.[5]
Aisha Augie-Kuta | |
---|---|
Born | 11 April 1980 |
Nationality | Nigerian |
Citizenship | Nigerian |
Education | Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria |
Alma mater | Ahmadu Bello University |
Occupation(s) | Photographer and Filmmaker |
Children | 3 |
Parents |
|
Awards | Creative Artist of the year at the 2011 The Future Awards. |
Augie-kuta is the current Special Adviser (Digital Communications Strategy) to the Federal Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning. Prior to this she was the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Kebbi State, Nigeria on New Media.[6] Augie-Kuta leads various development initiatives for the advocacy of youth and women empowerment across Nigeria.
Biography
editBorn Aisha Adamu Augie in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria,[1] Augie-Kuta is the daughter of the late Senator Adamu Baba Augie (politician/broadcaster), and Justice Amina Augie (JSC). Augie-Kuta became interested in photography when her father gave her a camera at a young age.
Augie-Kuta received a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and is studying for an MSc in Media and communication at the Pan African University, Lagos (Now Pan Atlantic University).[1] She is married with three children.[3] Augie-Kuta has certificates in digital filmmaking from the New York Film Academy and curating contemporary art exhibitions from the Chelsea College of Arts, London, UK.[7]
Augie-Kuta became an Associate for the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) in May 2011. She is also the vice-president of Women in Film and Television in Nigeria (WIFTIN) the West African chapter of the US-based network. She co-founded the Photowagon, a Nigerian photography collective, in 2009.[8]
In 2010, Augie-Kuta was included, along with 50 other Nigerian women, in a book and exhibition for the nation's 50@50 celebrations supported by the Women for Change Initiative.[3]
In 2014, Augie-Kuta held her first solo photographic exhibition, entitled Alternative Evil.[9]
She has made contributions toward girl child/youth development and nation building.[citation needed] She has been a frequent facilitator at the annual gathering of photographers, Nigeria Photography Expo & Conference;[citation needed] a panelist and speaker at various events;[citation needed] and has spoken at TEDx events in Nigeria.[10]
Augie-Kuta was sworn in as a UNICEF High-Level Women Advocate on Education with a focus on girls and young women.[11]
In 2018, Augie-Kuta was the lead representative for the Nigerian Visual Arts sector that met with His Royal Highness Charles, Prince of Wales at the British Council in Lagos.[12][non-primary source needed]
Augie-Kuta is the first female politician to run for the house of representatives primaries under a major party for the Argungu-Augie Federal Constituency in Kebbi State, Nigeria. Augie-Kuta is a frequent facilitator at the annual gathering of photographers, Nigeria Photography Expo & Conference; a panelist and speaker at various events; and has spoken at TEDx events in Nigeria.
She worked as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Kebbi State, Nigeria on New Media.[13][14]
She currently works as the Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed.
Awards
edit- 2011: Winner, Creative Artist of the Year at The Future Awards[15]
- 2014: Sisterhood Award for Photographer of the Year[16]
- 2014: Winner, British Council 'Through-My-Eyes' competition[17]
- 2015: Ambassador, Lagos Fashion Week
- 2016: Award of Excellence, (Leadership & Service to Humanity), Junior Chamber International
- 2016: Top 7 Young Nigerian Entrepreneurs, Leadership
- 2016: HiLWA: High Level Women Advocate, (Girl Child Education & Affirmative Action) UNICEF/Kebbi State Government
- 2016: Fellow, Korea International Cooperation Agency
Exhibitions
edit- 50 Years Ahead through the Eyes of Nigerian Women, Lagos, (Schlumberger, The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands, African Artists Foundation)[18]
- 50 Years Ahead through the Eyes of Nigerian Women, Abuja, Nigeria; April 2010 (Transcorp Hilton, The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands, African Artists Foundation)[19]
- Here and Now: Contemporary Nigerian and Ghanaian Art, New York City, October 2010 (Iroko Arts Consultants, Ronke Ekwensi).[citation needed]
- The Authentic Trail: Breast Cancer, Fundraising Exhibition, Abuja, Nigeria, October 2010 (Medicaid Diagnostics, Pinc Campaign, Aisha&Aicha)[citation needed]
- My Nigeria; The Photowagon Exhibits, Abuja, Nigeria, December 2010 (The Photowagon, Thought Pyramid Gallery)[3]
- Water and Purity, African Artists Foundation, Lagos, Nigeria, September 2012[20]
- The Nigerian Centenary Photography exhibition, July 2014[21]
- Material culture, Lagos Photo Festival, October–November 2014[22][23]
- Alternative Evil, Mixed Media Exhibition, IICD Abuja, Nigeria 2014
- Countless Miles, Nigerian Travel Exhibition, Miliki Lagos, Nigeria 2016
- Before, Before & Now, Now, Mira Forum, Art Tafeta Porto, Portugal, 2016
- To mark new beginnings: Africa’ African Steeze Los Angeles, USA, 2016
- Consumption by moonlight, Environmental Art Collective Abuja, Nigeria, 2015
- Photo Junctions, Thought pyramid Art Centre Abuja, Nigeria, 2015
Publications
edit- 50@50 Nigerian Women: The journey so far. Nigeria: Rimson Associates. 2010. pp. 32–35. ISBN 978-978-8033-05-9.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Gotevbe, Victor (21 January 2012). "I see opportunities everywhere". Vanguard Nigeria Newspaper. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ "Augie-Kuta’s Quest For Entrepreneurship Development" Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Leadership. 1 July 2014
- ^ a b c d Inyang, Ifreke. "From the Magazine: Picture Perfect!". Ynaija. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ "Aisha Augie-Kuta". The Future Awards Africa. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "The Latest in Contemporary Art, Culture + Visual Media". Art Base Africa. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Aisha Augie-Kuta: Motivated by hunger for learning". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 4 June 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "TEDxMaitama | TED". www.ted.com. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ McKenzie, Sheenah (25 July 2012). "Filmmaker aims to explode Africa 'bombs and bullets' myth". CNN. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
- ^ "Augie-Kuta focuses on Alternative Evil in first solo exhibition". Premium Times. 23 September 2014.
- ^ "TEDxMaitama | TED". www.ted.com. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ "Kebbi inaugurates Hilwa group tomorrow – faces international magazine". facesinternationalmagazine.org.ng. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ Government, Kebbi State (12 November 2018). "Last week, Aisha Augie Kuta @AishaAK49, the SSA to the Kebbi State Governor on New Media met with HRH Prince Charles as a representative for the Nigerian Visual Arts sector at the British Council in Lagos. #RoyalVisitNigeria @ClarenceHousepic.twitter.com/NNZu4pImqw". @KBStGovt. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ Lere, Mohammed (25 December 2015). "Kebbi Governor appoints female photojournalist SSA new media". Premium Times. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ "Speaker Profile, TEDx". Medium. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ "Winners 2011 The Future Awards". The Future Project. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ "See fun photos of Mo Abudu's 50th birthday party". Nigerian Entertainment Today. 14 September 2014. Archived from the original on 16 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ "The British Council announces the winners of its Through my Eyes competition". EbonyLife TV. 22 May 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ Offlong, Adie (3 April 2010). "How female artists view Nigeria at 50". Daily Trust. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ Offiong, Adie Vanessa (23 April 2010). "Nigerian art seen through women's eyes". Daily Trust. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ "Water and Purity: A conceptual art exhibition featuring seven female artists". African Artists' Foundation. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ "Photography Exhibition Details Nigeria’s Centenary History and Heritage". ArtCentron
- ^ "International art festival of photography in Nigeria". LagosPhoto. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ "Lagos photo festival: Turning negatives into positives". aquila-style.com. Retrieved 16 October 2017.