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Nigerian photographer’s iconic 'Hairstyles' series

Nigerian photographer’s iconic 'Hairstyles' series

J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere, known as Nigeria’s top photographer gained international acclaim

Witness History · BBC World Service

May 20, 202510m 41s

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Show Notes

J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere, who was known as Nigeria’s top photographer, started documenting women’s hairstyles in 1968. He built up a portfolio of around 2,000 negatives revealing the elaborate ways African women styled their hair through his series of black and white photos.

A selection of his 'Hairstyles' prints was displayed at the Venice Biennale in 2013. Reena Stanton-Sharma speaks to his son Amaize Ojeikere, also a photographer, about his father’s work.

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(Photo: 'Hairstyles' by J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere. Credit: Teresa Suarez/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)