Raising Awareness of Autism through Art

In order to raise awareness of autism and the challenges of autistic people, a 15-year-old Nigerian has set up a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest art canvas. Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Akeke, who is autistic, created a work of art with a multi-colored band – a symbol of the autism awareness ribbon – on a canvas with 12,304 square meters, much larger than the size of a typical football field, which is 7,140 square meters in size.

The Record-Breaking Artwork

The work of art was founded in November 2024 and was recognized and officially confirmed by the organizers of the Guinness World Records in the capital of Nigeria, Abuja, on World Autism Acceptance Day in April. The previous world record holder, Emad Salehi, had set the record with a 9,652 square meter screen, almost three times smaller than Tagbo-Akeke’s artwork.

A Personal Achievement

Tagbo-Akeke was born in Canada before moving to Nigeria, and his upbringing was a challenge, said his family. Many people on the autism spectrum are exposed to stigma and limited resources in Nigeria, but the family of Tagbo-Akekes was determined to give him the best support they could. When asked about his achievement, Tagbo-Akeke said, “I felt good. Happy.”

The Nigerians Celebrate the Record

The young artist’s record attempt, accompanied by a campaign entitled “Impossibility is a myth”, was celebrated among Nigerians. The Nigerian Minister of Art and Culture, Hannatu Musawa, said that Tagbo-Akeke’s artwork was “a beacon of hope and inspiration” for people with autism. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also congratulated the teenager, saying, “They are brave, bold and persistent. Congratulations on their recognition. Her history has written history, and Nigeria is proud of her, Kanyachukwu Tagbo-Akeke.”

Aiding a Good Cause

The initiative of Kanyachukwu also aimed to collect donations for the Zeebah Foundation, a non-profit organization that is devoted to the support of people with autism and their families. In Nigeria, as in many other countries, autism is often diagnosed later in life and there is no official data in the country. According to the World Health Organization, however, around 1 in 100 children are autistic worldwide.