Leading Photographers based in Nigeria (Part Two)
Begun over two weeks ago, we present the second part of our list of some of the best-known photographers living and working in Nigeria.
TY Bello (b.1978)
Wole Soyinka
An accomplished portrait photographer and well-known singer, Toyin Sokefun Bello is a founding member of the Depth of Field, a photography collective. According to her: “Art is about collecting experiences and expressing them. I collect experiences, stir them in myself and express them in my own language (photography)”. In addition to serving an appointment as the official photographer to the former Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, Bello has photographed several local and international celebrities like The UK’s Tinie Tempah.
Andrew Esiebo (b.1978)
Nigeria on my mind. Image credit: andrewesiebo.com
Born in Lagos in 1978, Andrew Esiebo is a visual storyteller whose work has achieved much international recognition. Eseibo began his career in 2001 when a friend bought him a camera. Since then, he has covered Nigeria’s rapid urban development and various social issues such as sexuality, gender, politics, football, pop culture and immigration. Esiebo has recently begun exploring video and multimedia.
Lakin Ogunbanwo (b.1981)
The Mask. Image credit: africanartswithtaj.blogspot.com
Lakin Ogunbanwo was self-taught until he attended the Speos Photography Institute in 2012. Since then, he has earned a reputation as a leading contemporary photographer in Nigeria. Ogunbanwo’s unique but controversial approach to photography involves creating enigmatic portraits with erotic and subversive undertones. His subjects exist defiantly in the frame, often masked by shadow, drapery and foliage. His use of vibrant colours and bold compositions is reminiscent of studio photography in Africa, popular a few decades ago. Some of his solo and joint exhibitions include Muse (Didi Gallery, Lagos), Portraits (Rooke & Van Wyk Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa), Dey Your Lane!, Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR, Brussels), (Tate Gallery, London) and Lagos Photo Festival 2016.
Adolphus Opara (b.1981)
Blood Meal from the series Slaugther House. Image credit: adolphusopara.com
Born in 1981, Adolphus Opara is a significant figure on the contemporary photography scene in Nigeria, evidence by several major local and international exhibitions he has participated in, including First Photo-Africa exhibition (Spain), This is Lagos (Coningsby Gallery, London), Lagos Photo (Lagos), Tate Modern (London) and Bamako Encounters (Bamako, Mali). His works are influenced by encounters with people and their daily struggles with obstacles that define their individual identity. He uses visual storytelling to show his emotional connection to the issues he confronts.
Abraham Oghobase (b.1979)
Fibre pigment print
In the early stages of his career, Abraham Oghobase was mentored by renowned sculptor Deji Ajose, as well as photographers Uche James-Iroha and French-Algerian Bruno Boudjelal. Oghobase’s work takes the form of photographic series, performances and photo-essays, crossing the boundaries often times between art photography and photojournalism. Two of his well-known series are ‘Jam’ (2008) and ‘Fuel Subsidy Protest’ (2012). His works have been exhibited in Nigeria, across Africa and Europe.
Read more Leading Photographers Based in Nigeria (Part one)
Zemaye Okediji (b.1980)
Shoot down breast cancer,. Image credit: smocontemporaryart.com
Zemaye Okediji is an accomplished photographer. In 2013,
Aisha Augie-Kuta (b.1980)
Contemporary Beauty. Image credit: aishaaugiekuta.net
Aisha Augie-Kuta is an award-winning photographer, media consultant and founder of the Center for Art & Creative Talent (CACTNIGERIA.ORG). Her work spans across documentary, fashion and aerial photography. She uses juxtaposition in her work to push the idea that there are always two sides of a story; this comes from her background in photojournalism and Mass Communication. Her personal projects explore issues of gender and identity influenced by her experiences as a mixed racial female, who struggled to carve her identity.
Aderemi Adegbite (b.1982)
Roadmates. Image credit: aderemiadegbite.net
Aderemi Adegbite uses self-taught photography and video art as a tool to engage society. Aderemi began his artistic career in the theatre arts. In 2012, his first solo exhibition N65, was staged at the Goethe-Institut (Nigeria) and Goethe Institut (Senegal). N65 won the Emerging Human Rights Activists award of the World Youth Movement for Democracy photo contest. Aderemi’s work is interdisciplinary and his present focus is to question individual realities and truths that stretch across the societal fabric as constants for an elastic socio-system. He has exhibited his work severally, locally and internationally.
Jumoke Sanwo (b.1977)
Faces, Addis Ababa. Image credit: Jumonkesanwo.com
Jumoke Sanwo is a Lagos-based photographer, who also uses text and video art as her means of expression. Sanwo is a member of The X-Perspective, Black Female Photographers Association, American Photography Association and the Invisible Borders Trans African Photography Project. In 2012, she was honoured with Institut-Français Award for Outstanding Project at the Biennale Benin. Her work has been exhibited all over the world, including Amsterdam, London, New York, Brussels, Dubai, Venice, Lagos, Sudan, South Africa, Addis Ababa, Benin, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville and Ghana.
Oyin Olaniyan
Oyindamola Olaniyan is the Head of Media and Communications at Revilo Publishing. She holds a B.sc in Botany from Lagos State University. Broadly experienced in this area, her core expertise includes social media management, content development and brand identity.
Recommended Posts
Otobong Nkanga: Acts at the Crossroads
December 05, 2019
In Conversation with Claire Idera
December 03, 2019
Masimba Hwati: Sokunge/As if
December 03, 2019
Nice Article , Photographers in Nigeria are talented.