Graphic Novels and Visual Storytelling in Nigerian Youth Culture

Graphic novels and sequential art have emerged as significant vehicles for visual storytelling among Nigerian youth, occupying an expanding space in the popular culture of young people in urban centres across the country. This study examines the production, content, and reception of graphic novels and comics among young creators and readers in Lagos, Enugu, and Kaduna, representing the South West, South East, and North West geopolitical zones respectively. A mixed-methods design is employed, combining structured questionnaires administered to 180 young people aged 15 to 25 with in-depth interviews conducted with 15 graphic novel creators. The study assesses the themes and visual styles adopted by Nigerian graphic novelists, the extent to which indigenous mythology, historical events, and contemporary social issues feature in the narratives, the distribution channels used, and the role of social media in building readership communities. The theoretical framework draws on sequential art theory, youth cultural studies, and the creative economy literature. Recent years have seen the emergence of notable Nigerian comics publishers and individual creators who have gained international attention, providing a dynamic backdrop for this study. The study examines whether graphic novel culture in Nigeria is developing distinctive national visual styles or converging toward Japanese manga and American comic aesthetic conventions. Findings are intended for fine arts educators, the Nigerian creative industries development organisations, and researchers in African popular visual culture. Keywords: graphic novel, visual storytelling, Nigerian youth, comics, sequential art