A Short Story – Segun Aiyesan


I was born in Benin City, Nigeria on March 18 1971. The second child among seven children. I guess I was born an artist. My fascination with nature and colours started quite early. I can recall myself fiddling with drawings and paints as early as four years old. As a young boy, my favourite hobby was collecting comics and trying to draw the characters. I cannot remember my parents helping to develop my talent at any point, so it was particularly difficult for me since I did not get much encouragement. They, on the other hand tried to steer me in a different direction.
I love art. It propelled me to be better at many other things I had to do alongside, since I was free to indulge in it, as long as nothing else suffered. My folks were glad it kept me busy and around. I never really realised a living can actually be made from art, so my development was actually channelled towards self-fulfilment rather than perpetuating a career direction. I went on to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Nigeria. While there, I was at the same time keeping myself busy making and enjoying art. I inadvertently was preparing myself for a life as a professional artist, because by the time I graduated I was quite advanced in skill in artistic depiction. I am a totally self-taught artist and I have been at it professionally since 1997. I am resident and based in Port Harcourt, Nigeria