‘Each design of mine tells a story’
Mairo Abdullahi is enthusiastic and passionate about culture and tradition because that is what defines her. She is a graduate of Nottingham Trent University and Wolverhampton University, UK, where she obtained a BA in Accounting and Finance and an MA in
How did you discover your talent in this turf of kamu décor?
The traditional Kamu decor is a self-taught business but with guidance and direction from Allah SWT. It all started one day whilst watching ‘The Bisi Olatilo’s show’ on weddings, which showcased a prominent Yoruba traditional decorator. I became engrossed in the weekly show and soon I picked an interest in event decor but my attention clearly focused on the Arewa tradition, which I convinced myself back then that I would be good at it since it’s something I’m familiar with anyways.
Being in this turf, what is creativity to you?
Creativity is important in life. It encompasses brainstorming, invention, ideas, art, innovation, insight, concept, thinking, fun, etc. When you are connected with your creative side, you can find inspiration and see possibilities everywhere. Thus, you learn from others and build whatever you want. I tend to source a lot of my materials from local art and crafts shops, panteka and some welders and modify them. Most times, when ideas come to my mind, I do a lot of writing to keep my ideas intact without having to struggle.
What in your personal life has inspired you to venture into your present career?
Having completed my studies and NYSC and married in 2005, it was extremely difficult and challenging securing a decent job for years but nevertheless, I embarked on petty trading, selling throw pillows and packaging event souvenirs in the meantime. Sometimes I invested my time and energy by stripping my lounge and rearranging things around to give it a different look on a weekly basis since I was newly married. This I did out of boredom and being unemployed but it was something I enjoyed doing. Five years went by sitting at home idle and in 2010, an opportunity presented itself when a friend’s sister paid me a visit and pleaded with me to help set a small area for her wedding decor and she was specifically interested in the Kamu decor. She talked me into it knowing how I always moved things around in my house. I accepted the challenge and to my surprise, it was successfully. That was the starting point of my Kamu decor business as I got referrals from one person to another.
What makes your work unique or different from others?
I can’t really say it’s what I have done or what I did but I know that I really love doing what I do creatively. And most of all, I have the Grace of Allah and with Him by my side, everything flourishes. I always try to differentiate my jobs, even when I use the same items repeatedly; I tend to create different effects from them, ensuring that I offer value and also try as much as I can to give more. I have been able to infuse my love for creating art into wedding decor designs which my brand is known for. I create artistic expression in my designs. Each design I create tells a story. How do you keep yourself
motivated and interested in your work?
The slogan ‘do what you love and love what you do’ pretty much motivates and keeps me happy about my Kamu decor most times. I constantly transform my Kamu decor props making them stand out from my competitors.
How would you describe your art of decorating?
My Kamu decor infuses cultural aspects with some touch of modern ideas since most businesses are globalised. I tend to infuse a multicultural style of decor because we sometimes get couples that have different cultures so in order to keep both parties happy, we infuse both.
What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?
The major challenge on the job is a team that works, every other challenge is basic and synonymous to all other businesses. For businesses like ours, your team can make or mar you. When I started the Kamu decor it was difficult to convince clients of my professionalism and ability to meet their demands since I didn’t go through any form of training. Other notable challenges encountered during the cause of this business is having other competitors take all of your ideas straight from your
page and claiming and walking away with the credit of such ideas. While others will munch pictures of your work and paste it on their pages claiming it’s theirs. I have had so many incidents like that. With the advent of apps, one is able to protect her work from being hijacked by writing your business name to each and every work done. Also, there have been challenges is terms of capital, especially because it is capital intensive and requires a lot of creative designs, constant change, and one needs to be trendy, unique, brand yourself in a way that any where people see our job they easily can tell it was handled by you.
Have those challenges ever made you feel discouraged? What keeps you going?
Yes a lot of the challenges can be discouraging especially where a client makes some commitment towards an event and suddenly some third party somewhere convinces the client a cheaper event decorator can be had elsewhere. The grace of Allah has kept me going.
If not decorating, what other field do you think you would have done well in?
If not Kamu decor, it would have been fashion designing because of my love for clothes. I’m reasonably good at coming up with ideas on clothing.
This turf is one way to promote Nigerian culture, has there been any support in any form from the government.
I reckon this area of culture would promote Nigerian’s arts and culture thereby creating employment locally since most of the items used in Kamu tends to be locally sourced. This will boost the production of the items of our local markets. For example the faifai, local leather poufs, stools, calabash, kumbo, tasa etc. Also, the local welders will brace up in fabricating things which one doesn’t ordinarily have to travel abroad to purchase. However, the wedding decor industry in Nigeria is not supported by government funding. One is left with no choice but using the little received from each job executed to constantly keep shaping the way of the game.
Have you trained people on this creative turf?
I’m yet to extend a training course outside of my workforce at the moment. This is because one needs sufficient funds to enable one carry out such training in terms of buying the essential basic items for practicals. I get a lot of request to start training though. Perhaps in the near future that