Best known for his images of extravagant, almost sculptural, women’s hairstyles, the work of the late Nigerian photographer J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere has been exhibited around the world. But in a 2014 documentary on his life, he said his art was not celebrated in his home country. That might be changing.
Recently, 150 photographs from his archives, most of which hadn’t been publicly exhibited before, were the focus of a special exhibition at one of Africa’s premier art fairs, ART X Lagos, in Nigeria.
Titled “An Exacting Eye,” the exhibition, as well as a masterclass taught by his son Amaize Ojeikere, sought to honor the life and work of one of the country’s most prolific documentary photographers.
These photos are part of an expansive archive, according to photographer and archivist Amaize, who said his father had “thousands and thousands of negatives.” The exhibition’s curator, Missla Libsekal, said investigating the largely analog archive required “time and commitment,” reviewing almost 8,000 images — a fraction of the trove — in a process that took several months.
Describing Ojeikere’s approach to photography as poetry, she said, “the way he saw the world and how he transformed that perception into an image is quite remarkable. He understood visual space, whether it was an outdoor or indoor setting, and how forms hold space.
“He translated this into images that enhanced and depicted a particular idea of beauty … It is a talent to make images that keep you engaged and marveling, and that was what he did.”
With ART X Lagos celebrating its tenth year, founder Tokini Peterside-Schwebig said highlighting Ojeikere’s work was about tribute and reconnection. “It is about ensuring our young people know the artists and teachers who shaped our visual language. The masterclass ensures that younger artists not only engage with his techniques and visual language but also understand the cultural lineage they inherit,” she said. “I hope it reawakens cultural memory — that it sparks pride, reflection and recognition,” she added.
ART X Lagos has become a key event in Nigeria’s art calendar, attracting thousands of artists, galleries, art enthusiasts and collectors from across the world. Peterside-Schwebig says this year brought scale, with a “richer and more layered experience that holds both legacy and experimentation,” as well as depth, with offerings like the masterclass and more as part of their strategy to invest more deeply in younger generations.
Ojeikere, who died in 2014, documented Nigerian architecture, people and culture for over 60 years, with his most recognized work being the acclaimed “Hairstyles” series. Libsekal said the photographer was saddened that his work was well received internationally but not valued in Nigeria, adding that the exhibition, was “bringing his work home and taking one of many steps to remediate that.”
In the exhibition were photos from his early career, festival photography and a range of portraits, as well as new images from the “Hairstyle” series, and photos of Lagos’ architecture, coastline and port, from the 1950s to the 1970s, capturing life pre- and post-Nigeria’s independence from colonial rule.
Amaize said he hoped to impart lessons to the 10 masterclass students about archiving as a practice, but also about his father’s tenacity, originality and work ethic.
“It’s very important that different generations are able to preserve what existed in their time for others to see, because there’s so much to learn from the past … so that the present and the future can be better,” he said.
“There’s so much to learn from the impact of his work, the style,” he added. “He lived ahead of his time.”
With hundreds of thousands of photographs and negatives still in the archive, Amaize said there are plans to build institutions that will allow the work to be viewed by a wider audience for years to come.
“Not all of the works might ever be released, but the most important thing is that we are creating a situation where people can truly research into the style the works of J.D. Ojeikere.”
A selection of Ojeikere’s work from the ART X Icon exhibition will be displayed at the Federal Palace Hotel lobby until the end of November.
