16 Year Old Boy in Nigeria: Richmond, The Visual Artist Who Deserves to Be Seen

The Story That Made People Pause

On December 3, 2025, a story cut through social media noise across West Africa.

Not scandal. Not controversy.

A 16-year-old visual artist named Richmond Kuzor.

Richmond lives in Awudome Anyirawase village, Ghana. He creates detailed illustrations—Tom and Jerry characters, portraits, sketches that fill notebook after notebook. His drawings are stunning. Precise. Full of life.

When a journalist visited his grandmother's home, they found Richmond's artwork displayed proudly on the walls. The quality spoke for itself.^[1]

Richmond was born in 2009. At age 2, a domestic incident left him paralyzed. Days later, a vehicle accident further impaired his mobility. Today, he lives with his grandmother, facing health challenges and limited access to resources. He's still in JHS 1 while peers his age are finishing Senior High School.

But Richmond creates. Every day. Because that's what artists do.

Maybe You Know This Feeling

Maybe you're not Richmond. Maybe you're not in a village. Maybe you're not disabled.

But maybe you've felt invisible.

You've spent hours on a piece—painting, illustration, design work—and posted it online. 3 likes. All from family.

You've joined Facebook groups for artists. Your work gets buried under selfies and memes within minutes.

You've scrolled through Instagram, seeing creators with 100K followers getting brand deals, while your work—which you know is good—gets zero attention.

You've tried Fiverr. $5 for a logo. $10 for a portrait. Competing against thousands. Race to the bottom.

You're talented. You're serious. You're ready to collaborate and grow.

But the platforms that exist make you feel like you don't matter.

What Richmond's Story Actually Teaches Us

It's about a simple truth:

Talented artists exist everywhere. But platforms to showcase their work don't.

Richmond has a gift. His drawings prove it. But he's in a village with limited internet access, no art supply stores, no gallery connections, no network of other artists to learn from.

His talent exists. The infrastructure to support it doesn't.

And Richmond isn't alone in that.

Across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and the entire African continent—across India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and rural communities everywhere—there are thousands of creators with extraordinary talent and nowhere to show it.

Not because they aren't good enough.

Because the platforms that exist weren't built with them in mind.

The Platforms That Leave Creators Behind

Let's talk honestly about why existing platforms fail creators like Richmond:

Instagram

You need consistent posting, perfect photos, and thousands of followers before opportunities find you. If you're in a village with unreliable internet, you're already behind.

Behance

Built for designers with portfolios of client work. If you're just starting, or creating in isolation, it's hard to break in.

Facebook Groups

Your work gets buried within hours. No way to filter serious opportunities from spam.

Fiverr/Upwork

Global competition drives prices down. Platforms take 20% commission. Your art becomes a commodity.

None of these were designed for creators in Richmond's situation. Or situations like his.

The problem isn't just individual barriers. It's systemic infrastructure gaps.

What We're Building (And Why It Matters)

Full transparency:

CoCreatea is in beta. We're small, we're growing, and we're far from perfect.

Richmond isn't on our platform yet. We're trying to reach him, but we don't have a success story to share.

What we do have is a vision:

Build a platform where talent is visible, regardless of circumstances.

Not just for disabled artists. Not just for village artists.

For ALL creators who deserve to be seen.

What Makes CoCreatea Different

We're not claiming to solve everything. But here's what we're building with intention:

1. No Financial Barriers

100% free. Forever. No premium tiers. No subscription fees.

Because a talented artist in a village shouldn't need ₦5,000/month or $10/month to showcase their work.

2. Recognition of Specific Creative Roles

150+ creator roles including:

• Visual artists (illustrators, painters, graphic designers, photographers)
• Musicians (producers, singers, instrumentalists, engineers)
• Performers (dancers, actors, choreographers)
• Digital creators (YouTubers, streamers, content creators)

You're not just "artist." Your specific skill matters.

3. Location-Inclusive Discovery

Filter by Lagos, Abuja, Nairobi, Mumbai, Manila—or by village, or remote work.

Creators can find each other locally AND connect globally.

4. Free Collaboration is Valued

Not everything needs to be a paid transaction.

"I want feedback on my art" is as valid as "Hiring illustrator for ₦200K project."

Community and growth matter, not just money.

5. Cross-Discipline Connections

Visual artists meet musicians who need album artwork. Musicians meet videographers for music videos. Writers collaborate with designers on graphic novels.

Everyone collaborates, learns, grows together.

What We're Actually Asking

We're not asking you to "join our platform and everything will be perfect."

We're asking you to help build something that should exist.

If You're a Creator Who's Been Overlooked

Whether it's because of location, resources, disability, age, or just bad luck—if you have talent that deserves to be seen:

If You're an Established Creator

Use your platform to amplify others:

✅ Collaborate with creators who don't have your advantages
✅ Hire fairly (don't exploit because someone is desperate)
✅ Share opportunities in your network
✅ Mentor without gatekeeping

If You Know a Young Creator Like Richmond

Help them get online:

✅ Take photos of their work with your phone
✅ Help create a simple profile
✅ Share their work in your network
✅ Be a bridge, not a gatekeeper

Richmond is Still Creating

Right now, in Awudome Anyirawase village, Richmond is drawing.

Not for viral fame. Not for pity. Not to "overcome" anything.

Because he's an artist. And that's what artists do.

His work deserves to be seen by people who appreciate art.

He deserves opportunities to connect with other artists, learn new techniques, maybe even earn from his talent someday.

He deserves what every creator deserves: a chance.

We Can't Fix Everything. But We Can Build This.

CoCreatea can't:

❌ Solve poverty
❌ Fix systemic inequality
❌ Cure disabilities
❌ Guarantee instant success

CoCreatea can:

✅ Provide free space to showcase work
✅ Connect creators across cities, villages, countries
✅ Value community alongside commerce
✅ Recognize talent without gatekeeping

That's not everything. But it's something.

An Invitation, Not a Sales Pitch

We're not promising Richmond will become famous if he joins CoCreatea.

We're not claiming we've "solved" the problems creators face.

We're just building a platform we wish existed for people like Richmond.

And we're inviting you to build it with us.

If you're a visual artist in Lagos or a village.
If you're a musician in Abuja or working remotely.
If you're a performer, digital creator, or any of 150+ creative roles.

If you believe talent deserves to be seen, regardless of circumstances:

For Richmond. And Everyone Like Him.

This isn't about inspiration.

It's about infrastructure.

Talent exists. Platforms to support it don't.

Let's build one together.

Related Resources

Explore more guides to support your creative journey:

• How to Find Creative Collaborators for Any Project
• Best Creative Collaboration Platforms for Artists
• Collaboration Platforms for Performers & Actors
• 7 Best Music Collaboration Platforms 2025

Ready to start? Sign up for CoCreatea now and join a community built for creators like you.