Shades Of Us Storytelling Initiative for African People (‘Shades of Us’)

A non-profit organization using storytelling to address the socio-economic issues affecting Africa, Africans and people of African descent.

This is with a view to facilitating open and honest conversations that lead to introspection, analysis and perspective change towards the greater goal of a redefined continent and people.

Social Commentary

On Emilia Pérez, Hollywood Stereotypes, and the Stories That Shape Us

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The State of Education in Nigeria

March 3, 2025

The State of Education in Nigeria

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March 18, 2025

So You Are…

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You Don’t Rate Yourself Enough

February 24, 2025

You Don’t Rate Yourself Enough

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533K+

Blog/Website Views

Shades of Us has reached more than 533,000 viewers with fictional and non-fictional stories around the socio-economic issues affecting Africans since the blog started in 2014.

15K+

Podcast Downloads

The organization runs two podcasts: The Review, focused on reviewing art – music, movies, TV shows, books, etc. – created by Africans and people of African descent; and The Gist, an audio version of the blog. There have been over 15,000 downloads of the podcast episodes since 2017.

12K+

Video Views

Using video logs, films, skits, and documentaries, Shades of Us has over 194,000 impressions and 12,000 video views.

13M+

People Reached on Facebook

Shades of Us has 11,483 followers on Facebook. As a result of organic and paid promotions since 2019, the organization has reached 13,815,824 people.

75M+

Facebook Impressions

Shades of Us has 11,483 followers on Facebook. As a result of organic and paid promotions since 2019, the organization has garnered 75,451,404 impressions

980K+

Twitter Impressions

Shades of Us has 1,233 followers. Tweets from the organization’s account have garnered 980,719 impressions since 2019.

22K+

People Reached on Instagram

On Instagram, the organization has 550 followers and has reached 22,362 people.

444K+

People Reached on LinkedIn

On LinkedIn, Shades of Us has 3,630 followers on both its Profile and Company Pages, reaching 444,960 people across both platforms.

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So You Are…

You wake with the sun, its golden fingers stretching through the cracks in your mud-brick home, painting patterns on your…

Beijing+30 Review Conference

Beijing+30 Review Conference

The Beijing+30 review presents a pivotal moment to evaluate the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

You Don’t Rate Yourself Enough

You Don’t Rate Yourself Enough

If you knew someone who does even half of what you do, You wouldn’t just admire them—you’d stand in awe…

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Podcasts

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Gallery

Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala

Maternal health is a critical issue in Nigeria, with thousands of women dying each year due to preventable causes. In recognition of this pressing challenge, Nigeria Health Watch organized the second edition of the Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala, focused on “Elevating Women’s Voices for Quality Maternal Health Care.”

Film Premiere and Screening

Shades of Us produced four films around sexual and gender-based violence and mental health. They are Report It, The Dumps, That Whole Area of Grey, and Flip the Switch. These films were screened to a small group of people in Abuja on November 1, 2021. Here are pictures from the premiere.

'One Girl One Pad' Campaign

Shades of Us partnered with Save our Women (SOW) Foundation for the ‘1 Girl, 1 Pad’ campaign in 2017 to provide young women in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Abuja with sanitary pads. The goal was to ensure every female in the selected IDP camp had enough pads for at least three months, assuming she has a menstrual period of three days.

Flow Premiere

The premiere of our short film FLOW, a short film that is about period poverty, and the pressing need to promote empowerment, dignity, and resilience when it comes to periods.

Shades of Us at the Movies & BBQ Night

On November 23, we had a nice experience at the Movies & BBQ festival: An Evening of Fun, Games, Barbecue, and Movies! The festival was organized by Motion Pictures International Film Festival in collaboration with ATW STUDIOS.

Red Shoe Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence

On March 15, 2024, Shades of Us participated in the #RedShoeCampaign organized by Nguvu Collective and the Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF). This campaign was aimed at combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and supporting survivors of sexual, and gender-based violence in Nigeria.

Purple Ball 2024

Strong Enough Girls Empowerment Initiative (SEGEI) collaborated with GLAMODI Women and Girls Development Initiative to host its ninth annual Purple Ball to celebrate women’s empowerment, inclusion, and leadership commemorating the 2024 International Women’s Day.

World Cancer Day Walk

On February 3, 2024, Shades of Us attended the World Cancer Day Walk hosted by Project PINK BLUE. Since 2015, this organization has been at the forefront of World Cancer Day activities in Nigeria, and this year’s edition carried the same message: cancer is a serious and often misunderstood illness that affects millions of people worldwide

'One Girl One Pad' Campaign

Shades of Us partnered with Save our Women (SOW) Foundation for the ‘1 Girl, 1 Pad’ campaign in 2017 to provide young women in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Abuja with sanitary pads. The goal was to ensure every female in the selected IDP camp had enough pads for at least three months, assuming she has a menstrual period of three days.

Brunch and Rejuvenate

Our Founder, Ramatu Ada Ochekliye, was invited to The Sunshine Series ‘Brunch and Rejuvenate’ event in commemoration of International Women’s Day. ‘Brunch and Rejuvenate’ was such a beautiful, calming session to celebrate women in leadership, connect with people with shared values, and remind ourselves that we are deserving of rest. Enjoy some memories from the event.

State of States Report Launch

In 2021, Shades of Us attended the State of States Report launch organized by Budgit Nigeria. Every year, through the State of States report, Budgit assesses the long-term fiscal sustainability of all the 36 Nigerian states, and ranks their fiscal performance, from the most sustainable to the least sustainable.

DARE Conference

The DARE Conference is a two-day conference organised by YouthHubAfrica, which sought to bring together over 500 young Africans to discuss and benefit from the practical experience of other youth speakers and artists who share personal life experiences, success stories as well as their vision regarding an end to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Against women and girls in Nigeria and Africa at large.

Script Readings and Film Rehearsals

Shades of Us produces films around the sustainable development goals as they affect Africa, Africans and people of African descent. These films are usually precluded by rigorous script readings and rehearsals. Here are some behind-the-scenes pictures.

Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala

Maternal health is a critical issue in Nigeria, with thousands of women dying each year due to preventable causes. In recognition of this pressing challenge, Nigeria Health Watch organized the second edition of the Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala, focused on “Elevating Women’s Voices for Quality Maternal Health Care.”

Film Premiere and Screening

Shades of Us produced four films around sexual and gender-based violence and mental health. They are Report It, The Dumps, That Whole Area of Grey, and Flip the Switch. These films were screened to a small group of people in Abuja on November 1, 2021. Here are pictures from the premiere.

'One Girl One Pad' Campaign

Shades of Us partnered with Save our Women (SOW) Foundation for the ‘1 Girl, 1 Pad’ campaign in 2017 to provide young women in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Abuja with sanitary pads. The goal was to ensure every female in the selected IDP camp had enough pads for at least three months, assuming she has a menstrual period of three days.

Red Shoe Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence

On March 15, 2024, Shades of Us participated in the #RedShoeCampaign organized by Nguvu Collective and the Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF). This campaign was aimed at combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and supporting survivors of sexual, and gender-based violence in Nigeria.

Purple Ball 2024

Strong Enough Girls Empowerment Initiative (SEGEI) collaborated with GLAMODI Women and Girls Development Initiative to host its ninth annual Purple Ball to celebrate women’s empowerment, inclusion, and leadership commemorating the 2024 International Women’s Day.

World Cancer Day Walk

On February 3, 2024, Shades of Us attended the World Cancer Day Walk hosted by Project PINK BLUE. Since 2015, this organization has been at the forefront of World Cancer Day activities in Nigeria, and this year’s edition carried the same message: cancer is a serious and often misunderstood illness that affects millions of people worldwide

'One Girl One Pad' Campaign

Shades of Us partnered with Save our Women (SOW) Foundation for the ‘1 Girl, 1 Pad’ campaign in 2017 to provide young women in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Abuja with sanitary pads. The goal was to ensure every female in the selected IDP camp had enough pads for at least three months, assuming she has a menstrual period of three days.

Brunch and Rejuvenate

Our Founder, Ramatu Ada Ochekliye, was invited to The Sunshine Series ‘Brunch and Rejuvenate’ event in commemoration of International Women’s Day. ‘Brunch and Rejuvenate’ was such a beautiful, calming session to celebrate women in leadership, connect with people with shared values, and remind ourselves that we are deserving of rest. Enjoy some memories from the event.

State of States Report Launch

In 2021, Shades of Us attended the State of States Report launch organized by Budgit Nigeria. Every year, through the State of States report, Budgit assesses the long-term fiscal sustainability of all the 36 Nigerian states, and ranks their fiscal performance, from the most sustainable to the least sustainable.

DARE Conference

The DARE Conference is a two-day conference organised by YouthHubAfrica, which sought to bring together over 500 young Africans to discuss and benefit from the practical experience of other youth speakers and artists who share personal life experiences, success stories as well as their vision regarding an end to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Against women and girls in Nigeria and Africa at large.

Script Readings and Film Rehearsals

Shades of Us produces films around the sustainable development goals as they affect Africa, Africans and people of African descent. These films are usually precluded by rigorous script readings and rehearsals. Here are some behind-the-scenes pictures.

Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala

Maternal health is a critical issue in Nigeria, with thousands of women dying each year due to preventable causes. In recognition of this pressing challenge, Nigeria Health Watch organized the second edition of the Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala, focused on “Elevating Women’s Voices for Quality Maternal Health Care.”

Film Premiere and Screening

Shades of Us produced four films around sexual and gender-based violence and mental health. They are Report It, The Dumps, That Whole Area of Grey, and Flip the Switch. These films were screened to a small group of people in Abuja on November 1, 2021. Here are pictures from the premiere.

Shades of Us Storytelling Initiative for African People

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