I talked to Ronke five months after the world cup in which the Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, performed well- but didn't make it to the finals. Everybody loved the campaign and the jersey was on fire”. That was a campaign that really resonated and connected with everybody from the emerging middle class and the less advantaged ones. “ Obviously with the release and the success of the Nigerian jersey, you see the Swoosh more and more everywhere. Ronke, founder of BWL agency observed a growth in the love for Nike since last summer. It’s part of the African culture, it’s part of us”, she continues. “ There are so many people that have worn Nike throughout the years. “I t’s a symbol of greatness” says Em, stylist and trend forecaster in Lagos. (Sources say that later she was compensated more generously…) Davidson handed over the design of the Swoosh for $35. She came up with the swoosh, the image resembling a wing and hints towards the name Nike- the Greek goddess of victory. He asked her to design something like a stripe that he could put on the side of a shoe that he was designing. He knew she was in need of a little extra money and asked her to help him with some projects- at an hourly rate of $2. The founder of Nike was an assistant professor at the University of Portland, where Davidson was studying. At that time, she was a student and looking for extra money. The Swoosh, the logo of the brand Nike, was designed in 1971 by graphic designer Carolyn Davidson. It looked hand cut, had some straight lines in it and was mirrored, with the the pointy top on the right instead of on the left side. It had the size of a large plantain and was by far the best – or rather worst - I’d ever seen. A few days after, when we were on our way to Lekki, I spotted another one on a Danfo, the mini-bus: a white sticker on the back and side of the bus. The second swoosh I spotted a few days later was painted on the leather seat of a taxi motor bike - an Okada. At Balogun market, the biggest market in Lagos, a friend and I crossed the street and there it was: a large, white Swoosh stuck on the bonnet of a light blue Toyota car, covering the width of the car.
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