Thought Pyramid Art Centre (Invitation)

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About the Photo Exhibition: 

Since the start of the violent insurgency in North Eastern Nigeria, the Jama‘atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), commonly known as Boko Haram, has caused massive suffering among the people who live in the four affected states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe. According to the 2016 Humanitarian Needs Overview, over 14.8 million people have been affected while 7 million are in need of assistance. Over 2.2 million people have been displaced and are living in camps or host communities The Nigerian government’s capacity to meet the needs of all internationally displaced people (IDPs) is being stretched, with no assistance reaching the IDPs who live outside the official camps in host communities (about 80% of the displaced population).

The host communities have risen to this challenge and opened their homes to people who have been displaced by the insurgency. This has put a tremendous strain on the communities’ resources and services including health, education, employment, land and food. Despite this, the Nigerian spirit and culture of hospitality has thrived. Nigerians opened their arms and welcomed extended families and strangers in their homes, schools and village squares to share their space, food and water without expecting anything in return.  

Nigerian Hospitality showcases IDPs and host communities’ resilience and shows that no matter the situation, the Nigerian spirit and culture of hospitality will always save the day. The pictures were taken from different locations in Yola as part of the Nigerian Joint Response, a partnership of Oxfam Novib, Tear/Tearfund, Stichting Vluchteling/IRC, led by Save the Children. The photos demonstrate the hospitality of the host communities in North East Nigeria where over 90% of the over 2.2million people who fled their homes as a result of the conflict are residing within limited and stretched resources.