Ajay Abalaka

“Queer people in Nigeria are not feeling they can be their true selves, and they want to be seen and heard. My Adobe Stock Artist Development Fund project will provide a space for me to put out my work, and initiate an advocacy conversation for my community, and beyond.”

Meet Ajay

Ajay Abalaka (she/her) is a filmmaker and photographer from Abuja, Nigeria. Her enthusiasm towards music and fine arts classes at an early age led her to pursue a career in the arts and continue to explore the possibilities of storytelling through photography and film. Ajay’s approach to creating her art includes moments of introspection and writing about her experiences, revisiting philosophies from different art movements, and exploring how visual art elements can be used in art films. She has a degree in Art History and Film Studies from the University of Kent which continues to inform her work.

Ajay is currently making work about how tradition is being challenged by young and queer identities in modern-day Nigeria. Her goal is to accurately represent marginalized communities to foster acceptance and ensure a well-informed society. For her Artist Development Fund project, she focuses on creating visibility for masculine presenting women. “Queer people in Nigeria are not feeling they can be their true selves, and they want to be seen and heard,” she says. “My Adobe Stock Artist Development Fund project will provide a space for me to put out my work, and initiate an advocacy conversation for my community, and beyond.”

ajayabalaka.com