Afrobeats to the world

Some kids woke up to the soulful sounds of Anita Baker in the morning. I woke up to the sound of trumpets, complex synths, rhythms and percussion that was Nigerian praise and worship.

If you had asked me when I was younger, I would've thought the traditional sound of afrobeat popularized by Fela Kuti and the evolving sound of afrobeats — an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that initially developed in Nigeria, Ghana and the UK in the 2000s and 2010s — would have stayed contained to the four corners of my house, church and the plenty of wedding receptions and birthdays that gave me fond memories of my childhood.

Watching the rise of afrobeats music in the U.S. and the overseas stardom that artists such as Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, Tiwa Savage, and many other artists who have been putting in work for over a decade, have achieved has been so amazing and rewarding. And seeing newer artists like Tems, Rema, BNXN (formerly known as Buju) and Fireboy DML succeeding from those barriers being knocked down is even more exciting.

Oftentimes, you know the value and special purpose something has, but getting everyone to see it can be hard. Seeing people embrace afrobeats from social media to the big stages over the past few years has made me feel like a proud parent who always knew their kid was special.

— Laura Nwogu, quality of life reporter at the Savannah Morning News

Follow me on Twitter at @lauranwogu_ or email me at LNwogu@gannett.com

Pulse of the 912

If you hear that a photo was 'Shot by Somi,' just know that person behind the lens is hoping to capture every client in the best light. I chat with photographer Somi Benson-Jaja about why he started his photography business, the importance of capturing special moments and the creative influence of Burna Boy.

Laura Nwogu: What inspired you to enter the world of photography?

SBJ: “You know, I started out as a music teacher. I taught elementary school full-time for six years. On the side, I would take pictures as a hobby, initially, and I just liked different colors and how they formed in the camera, hitting the light. I think it started a little bit before then. In college, I would take pictures of Armstrong for the orientation program. I was really intrigued by smiles and people's faces — just people being happy on campus. That was the kind of picture I would capture.

“And then, when I was teaching, the art teacher at my school taught me how to draw portraits. So, when I started taking pictures of people, I started thinking about portraits really big. Using people as a medium instead of just like landscapes and things, and that's kind of how it started.”

LN: And when did that love of photography, portraits and just seeing the smiles on people's faces shift into Shot by Somi? 

SBJ: “It's funny because I, never in a million years, would have thought I would be a full-time photographer now or have a photography business. My first client was one of my friends from college after I had already graduated. They wanted me to take pictures of their sister for prom, and they said that they'll pay me. I was like, ‘Alright, well, just pay me whatever.’ I think it was around $50 that they paid me for the prom shoot.

“And the next week, that person's cousin needed pictures for prom. I got another little $50. Now that same kind of photoshoot would be around $500 so it's kind of crazy. But I had college loans, so I used all my photography money initially to pay off my loans. And then I realized that I could commoditize the art that I love in order to make money and so, over a few years, I kind of made it a brand. I came up with the moniker 'Shot by Somi' and it was really catchy; everybody started calling me ‘Shot by Somi’ which was kind of funny and then it just became a thing.”

LN: You do a lot of brand and portrait photography. As a photographer, what is the balance between the messages that clients hope to portray and your creativity?

SBJ: “A cool thing about photography, and I guess art in general, is that no matter what, you can still be creative. And what I mean by that is there are times that we think that if we have a client or if we're getting paid for our service, we're gonna lose our input. But a lot of times in the photography business, if you're doing it right, the client is coming to you for your expertise. So with that, I get a lot of my creative juices.”

LN: You also capture a lot of joyous moments. You do wedding photography, graduation, maternity shoots, birthdays. What's it like for you to be a part of these joyous moments and to know that you're capturing these timeless moments for people that will last forever?

SBJ: “It didn't strike me, at first, about the importance of pictures until I shot a wedding at the convention center three years ago. We had done their engagement shoot, did their wedding, and then a month to the date of the wedding, the bride's father passed away. The mother of the bride calls me and she says, ‘Somi, I just want to thank you for the pictures that you took at the wedding because that's what I've been holding on to every single day since he's passed. And I'm holding on to those smiles because he was at his happiest that day, and you captured it beautifully.'

“As the goosebumps came in and the tears welled up — and I'm somebody who doesn't really cry often — it was that moment I realized the importance that those special moments had and the importance of capturing them and not missing the shot. And so, my clients are the ones that reinforce that over and over again. They're so happy when they get their images back because they haven't looked their best half the time. They haven't put that makeup on. You know, they do it once in a while, but they get to see themselves in their best light. And that's always my intention, putting them out there that way.”

LN: That was beautiful. I love that.

And shifting a bit. You shoot all around Savannah. Are there any favorite places that you like to shoot at?

SBJ: “It would probably be Bethesda [Academy], one of the most beautiful campuses that not everybody has seen. It has that touch of Wormsloe and then a touch of downtown all in one. It also has the marsh views and everything, so, to me, there's probably nowhere I'd rather shoot than Bethesda Academy.”

LN: You mentioned that you were a music teacher. Do you have a go-to song or anything that gets your creative juices going when you're taking photos? 

SBJ: “That's a great question. I've never thought of that. I'm Nigerian and a first-gen American. In the studio, I'm always playing afrobeats. I have to have music on normally during the photoshoot if we're in the studio and I always throw on some Burna Boy or Wizkid, and it just gets me going.”

LN: I relate to that. “Last Last” is my song of the summer so that’s been nonstop (laughs). 

SBJ: “Yes. Let’s go.”

LN: And what is a piece of advice you would give any up-and-coming photographers or people looking to start their own business?

SBJ: “Truth is, an art business isn’t easy because it is subjective to how people view your work. I think if you're an upcoming photographer, it’s important to have your distinctive style and stick with it. Understand how you deliver it but do it well and also be very consistent with your methods.

"If there's one piece of business advice for anybody, it would be to deliver what your client requests. If somebody asks for something and you can't deliver it, don't say, ‘I can deliver it.’ If that's not the thing that you do, it's okay to pass on it. If that's not the method that you take, it's okay to say, ‘No, we don't do this. We only do it this way.’ And so that's the biggest piece of advice. People in business want what they asked for at the end of that day, so if you can't manage that expectation, don't try to.”

LN: Great advice. And the final question that I end off with everyone is: Why do you love the 912?

SBJ: “I was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and I came down to Savannah when I was in third grade. I'm an avid traveler, and every time I leave and come back, I am always reminded of the beauty of Savannah. The people, in my experience, are some of the friendliest people. And we actually do have a great culinary scene. I love good food. I like going out to the different restaurants that are out here. All that encompassing are the different things that keep me attached to the city.”

This interview was edited for length and clarity. 

If you know someone in The 912 community that you would like to see featured, email me.

Art of The 912

The 912 newsletter will highlight a local Black artist every two months as the header image for the weekly issue. This month's artist is Gabe Torres.

Follow Torres on her website and Instagram:

Website: gabrielleelizabethtorres.com

Instagram: @get.arttorres

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: The 912: Afrobeats to the world