Macron Touched By An 11-Year-Old Nigerian Boy’s Talent

For effortlessly drawing a portrait of France’s leader during his visit to Afrika Shrine in Lagos, an 11-year-old Nigerian boy Olamilekan Kareem has caught the attention of Emmanuel Macron. Macr...

Published 4 Jul 2018

By Abisola Olasupo

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) meets with a young boy who drew a portrait of him during a visit to the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018. French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) meets with a young boy who drew a portrait of him during a visit to the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN

For effortlessly drawing a portrait of France’s leader during his visit to Afrika Shrine in Lagos, an 11-year-old Nigerian boy Olamilekan Kareem has caught the attention of Emmanuel Macron.

Macron is on a visit to Nigeria where he met President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja and also paid a visit to Afrika Shrine, which is regarded as the home of Afrobeat, a genre of music founded by the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

“Very touched, congratulations to this young boy.” Macron tweeted on Tuesday.

The French president, who was once a junior diplomat in Nigeria emphasised on the importance of the shrine to the African culture and hope many Europeans will be exposed to appreciate.
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Singer and actor Banky W, who anchored the event described praised Kareem for his skills.

“This is the level of talent we have in Lagos; an eleven-year-old Kazeem drew this within 2 hours,” he said.

“This is African energy. The one I discovered here in Lagos when I was 23. The one I am glad to see is still thriving several years later. The one I hope many Europeans will get to know.”

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