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J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere

Born in 1930, Ovbiomu, Nigeria
Died in 2014, Lagos, Nigeria, where he lived and worked



J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere was raised in a small village in rural southwestern Nigeria.  In 1950, he bought a modest Brownie D camera, and a neighbour taught him the rudiments of photography. In 1951 he began to seek work from the Ministry of Information in Ibadan, repeatedly sending the same letter: “I would be very grateful if you would use me for any kind of work in your photographic department.” His persistence paid off in 1954, when he was offered a position as a darkroom assistant.  Just as Nigeria was shedding colonial rule in 1961, he became a still photographer for Television House Ibadan, a division of the Western Nigerian Broadcasting Services, the first television station in Africa.  Jazz musician Steve Rhodes was director of programming and Ojeikere has recalled, the spirit of the time:  “Just after independence, we were full of ideas and energy.  We were going to conquer the world.”  
In 1963 he moved to Lagos to work for West Africa Publicity. In 1967 he joined the Nigerian Arts Council, and during their festival of the following year he began to take series of photographs dedicated to Nigerian culture. This body of work, now consisting of thousands of images, has become a unique anthropological, ethnographic, and documentary national treasure. Most African photographers of his generation only worked on commission; this project, unique of its kind, flourished without any commercial support.

The Hairstyle series, which consists of close to a thousand photographs, is the largest and the most thorough segment of Ojeikere’s archive. “To watch a ‘hair artist’ going through his precise gestures, like an artist making a sculpture, is fascinating. Hairstyle are an art form,” Ojeikere has commented.  He photographs hairstyles every day in the street, in offices, at parties.  He records each subject systematically: from the rear, sometimes in profile, and occasionally head on. Those from the rear are almost abstract and best reveal the sculptural aspect of the hairstyles.
For Ojeikere, this is a never-ending project as hairstyles evolve with fashion: “All these hairstyles are ephemeral. I want my photographs to be noteworthy traces of them. I always wanted to record moments of beauty, moments of knowledge. Art is life. Without art, life would be frozen.”

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J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Making Africa _
  • Group Show
Travelling Exhibition
 -
 14.03.2015 - 13.01.2019
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Paris Photo 2017
  • Group Show
Grand Palais, Paris, France
 -
 09.11.2017 - 12.11.2017
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Art/Afrique. Le nouvel atelier
  • Group Show
Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris, France
 -
 26.04.2017 - 04.09.2017
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Paris Photo 2016
  • Group Show
Grand Palais, Paris, France
 -
 10.11.2016 - 13.11.2016
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Paris Photo 2015
  • Group Show
Grand-Palais, Paris, France
 -
 12.11.2015 - 15.11.2015
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair New York 2015
  • Group Show
Brooklyn, New York, Etats-Unis
 -
 15.05.2015 - 17.05.2015
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Mémoires vives
  • Chéri Samba ,
  • Bodys Isek Kingelez ,
  • J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris, France
 -
 10.05.2014 - 21.09.2014
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
  • Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,
  • J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Hommage à Frédéric Bruly Bouabré et Okhai Ojeikere
Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France
 -
 13.02.2014 - 12.05.2014
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Paris Photo 2013
  • Group Show
Grand Palais, Paris, France
 -
 14.11.2013 - 17.11.2013
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Paris Photo Los Angeles 2013
  • Jean Depara ,
  • Seydou Keïta ,
  • J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere ,
  • Malick Sidibé
Paramount Pictures Studios, Los Angeles, Etats-Unis
 -
 25.04.2013 - 28.04.2013

NEWS

Structures of Identity - Photography from The Walther Collection

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere

Structures of Identity - Photography from The Walther Collection

Exhibition, FOAM, Amsterdam, Holland
-
06.29.2018 - 08.29.2018
Everyday Africa!

Jacques-Jean Efiaimbelo,

Romuald Hazoumè,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Gérard Quenum,

Malick Sidibé

Everyday Africa!

Exhibition, Fondation Zinsou, Cotonou, Benin
-
03.26.2018 - 09.29.2018
Studio Africa!

Mama Casset,

Jean Depara,

Seydou Keïta,

Ambroise Ngayimoko,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Paramount Photographers,

Malick Sidibé

Studio Africa!

Exhibition, Tristan Hoare Gallery, London, England
-
11.16.2017 - 12.20.2017
On aime l'art...!! Un choix d'Éric Mézil parmi les oeuvres de la Collection agnès b.

Pierre Bodo,

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,

Chéri Samba,

Seydou Keïta,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Vincent Michéa,

Marcel Miracle,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Amadou Sanogo,

Malick Sidibé

On aime l'art...!! Un choix d'Éric Mézil parmi les oeuvres de la Collection agnès b.

Exhibition, Collection Lambert en Avignon, France
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07.06.2017 - 11.05.2017
Africa, Telling a world

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,

Chéri Samba,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Seydou Keïta,

Gonçalo Mabunda,

Abu Bakarr Mansaray,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé

Africa, Telling a world

Exhibition, PAC Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea, Milan, Italy
-
06.26.2017 - 09.11.2017
Structures of Identity, The Photography Show Presented by AIPAD

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere

Structures of Identity, The Photography Show Presented by AIPAD

Exhibition, The Walther Collection, Pier 94, New York
-
03.30.2017 - 04.02.2017
Regarding Africa: Contemporary Art and Afro-Futurism

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,

Chéri Samba,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Abu Bakarr Mansaray,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé

Regarding Africa: Contemporary Art and Afro-Futurism

Exhibition, Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, Israel
-
12.09.2016 - 05.27.2017
African Portraits: Omar Victor Diop, Seydou Keïta, Aida Muluneh, Malick Sidibé & J.D.'Okhaï Ojeikere

Omar Victor Diop,

Seydou Keïta,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé

African Portraits: Omar Victor Diop, Seydou Keïta, Aida Muluneh, Malick Sidibé & J.D.'Okhaï Ojeikere

Exhibition, HackelBury Gallery,London, England
-
10.06.2016 - 11.19.2016
The Order of Things, Photography from The Walther Collection

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere

The Order of Things, Photography from The Walther Collection

Exhibition, Walther Collection, Neu-Ulm, Germany
-
05.29.2016 - 11.20.2016
Permanent Collection

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé

Permanent Collection

Museum of Modern Art of Paris_MAM
-
02.01.2016 - 12.31.2016
Permanent Collection

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere

Permanent Collection

Art Institute of Chicago, USA
-
11.21.2015
Permanent Collection

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere

Permanent Collection

MoMA, New-York, USA
-
09.01.2015
In and Out of the Studio : Photographic Portraits from West Africa

Seydou Keïta,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere

In and Out of the Studio : Photographic Portraits from West Africa

Exhibition, MET, New-York, USA
-
08.31.2015 - 01.03.2016

PUBLICATIONS

Lumières africaines. L'élan contemporain

Joël Andrianomearisoa,

Pierre Bodo,

Filipe Branquinho,

Seyni Awa Camara,

Mama Casset,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Omar Victor Diop,

John Goba,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Kiripi Katembo,

Seydou Keïta,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

JP Mika,

Moke,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere

Gérard Quenum,

Amadou Sanogo,

Malick Sidibé,

Lumières africaines. L'élan contemporain

-
Author : André Magnin & Mehdi Qotbi
Editor : Langages du sud
2017
Les Initiés, un choix d'oeuvres (1989-2009) de la collection d'art contemporain africain de J. Pigozzi

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,

Seyni Awa Camara,

Chéri Samba,

Calixte Dakpogan,

John Goba,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Seydou Keïta,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Abu Bakarr Mansaray,

Moke,

Rigobert Nimi Mayuba,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere

Malick Sidibé,

Les Initiés, un choix d'oeuvres (1989-2009) de la collection d'art contemporain africain de J. Pigozzi

-
Author : Suzanne Pagé, André Magnin, Angeline Scherf, Ludovic Delalande
Editor : Fondation Louis Vuitton, Dilecta
2017
J.D'OKHAI OJEIKERE Photographies

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere

J.D'OKHAI OJEIKERE Photographies

-
Author : André Magnin
Editor : Edité par André Magnin Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain / Actes Sud, Paris
2000

PRESS

L'Abbaye de Daoulas, un incontournable de l'été

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


L'Abbaye de Daoulas, un incontournable de l'été

Ouest France
-
17.07.2018
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5 to See: This Weekend

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


5 to See: This Weekend

Aesthetica
-
28.06.2018
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Nigerian women's elaborate hairstyles - in pictures

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


Nigerian women's elaborate hairstyles - in pictures

The Guardian

-

By Kathryn Bromwich

-
23.06.2018
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Daoulas. Balades photographiques à l'abbaye

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


Daoulas. Balades photographiques à l'abbaye

Actu

-

By Aurélie Berlet

-
21.04.2018
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Un hommage à la beauté des coiffures nigérianes

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


Un hommage à la beauté des coiffures nigérianes

Ouest France

-

By Aude Kerdraon

-
30.03.2018
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La coiffure nigériane à l'honneur à l'Abbaye de Daoulas

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


La coiffure nigériane à l'honneur à l'Abbaye de Daoulas

Ouest France
-
11.03.2018
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Un été africain à Paris

Chéri Samba,

Calixte Dakpogan,

John Goba,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Seydou Keïta,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Rigobert Nimi Mayuba,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé


Un été africain à Paris

Le Figaro Scope

-

By Valérie Duponchelle, Sophie De Santis, Margaux d'Adhémar

-
10.07.2017
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Exposition J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere : photographe culte de la coiffure nigériane

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


Exposition J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere : photographe culte de la coiffure nigériane

FAB

-

By Daphné Segretain

-
03.07.2017
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L'Afrique loin des clichés exotiques à la Fondation Louis Vuitton

Seydou Keïta,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé


L'Afrique loin des clichés exotiques à la Fondation Louis Vuitton

Geopolis Afrique

-

By Laurent Filippi

-
29.06.2017
Download: PDF
Jean Pigozzi :

Chéri Samba,

Seydou Keïta,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Abu Bakarr Mansaray,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


Jean Pigozzi : "Quand les gens auront vu la puissance de l'art africain..."

Le Point Afrique

-

By Pascal Jouary

-
23.06.2017
Download: PDF
Les 15 meilleurs catalogues d'expositions de Paris

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,

Seyni Awa Camara,

Chéri Samba,

Calixte Dakpogan,

John Goba,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Seydou Keïta,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Abu Bakarr Mansaray,

Moke,

Rigobert Nimi Mayuba,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé

Les 15 meilleurs catalogues d'expositions de Paris

Evous

-

By André Balbo

-
05.06.2017
Download: PDF
Les Initiés vous attendent à la Fondation Vuitton

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,

Seyni Awa Camara,

Chéri Samba,

Calixte Dakpogan,

John Goba,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Seydou Keïta,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Abu Bakarr Mansaray,

Moke,

Rigobert Nimi Mayuba,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé

Les Initiés vous attendent à la Fondation Vuitton

Syma News

-

By Florence Yeremian

-
26.05.2017
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Fondation Louis Vuitton Presents the Best African Contemporary Art

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,

Chéri Samba,

John Goba,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Seydou Keïta,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé


Fondation Louis Vuitton Presents the Best African Contemporary Art

Crave

-

By Miss Rozen

-
25.05.2017
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Exposition Art Afrique. Le nouvel atelier, à la Fondation Vuitton

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,

Seyni Awa Camara,

Chéri Samba,

Calixte Dakpogan,

John Goba,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Seydou Keïta,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Abu Bakarr Mansaray,

Moke,

Rigobert Nimi Mayuba,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé

Exposition Art Afrique. Le nouvel atelier, à la Fondation Vuitton

Evous

-

By André Balbo

-
20.05.2017
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L'Afrique en grand dans une triple exposition à la Fondation Louis Vuitton

Seyni Awa Camara,

Chéri Samba,

Calixte Dakpogan,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Seydou Keïta,

Moke,

Rigobert Nimi Mayuba,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé


L'Afrique en grand dans une triple exposition à la Fondation Louis Vuitton

Culturebox

-

By Valérie Oddos

-
19.05.2017
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L'incontournable collection Pigozzi, Portfolio

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,

Seyni Awa Camara,

Chéri Samba,

Calixte Dakpogan,

John Goba,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Seydou Keïta,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Abu Bakarr Mansaray,

Moke,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé

L'incontournable collection Pigozzi, Portfolio

Le Monde Hors-série. Le printemps africain. Art/Afrique, le nouvel atelier à la Fondation LV

-

By Suzanne Pagé

-
01.05.2017
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Five Artworks to See at Fondation Louis Vuitton's Art/Africa

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé


Five Artworks to See at Fondation Louis Vuitton's Art/Africa

Another Magazine

-

By Hannah Tindle

-
28.04.2017
Download: PDF
Focus sur la vibrante scène sud-africaine à la Fondation Vuitton

Calixte Dakpogan,

Seydou Keïta,

Abu Bakarr Mansaray,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


Focus sur la vibrante scène sud-africaine à la Fondation Vuitton

Le Parisien
-
26.04.2017
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L'Oeil de Jean Pigozzi

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,

Chéri Samba,

Calixte Dakpogan,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Seydou Keïta,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


L'Oeil de Jean Pigozzi

L'Express

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By Julie Boukobza

-
05.04.2017
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Jean Pigozzi, millionnaire, mécène et photographe de la jet-set

Chéri Samba,

Seydou Keïta,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


Jean Pigozzi, millionnaire, mécène et photographe de la jet-set

Madame Figaro

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By Richard Gianorio

-
26.03.2017
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Cergy : Afrique plurielle #2 - Mode et création numérique du 16 au 26 février à Visages du Monde

Omar Victor Diop,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


Cergy : Afrique plurielle #2 - Mode et création numérique du 16 au 26 février à Visages du Monde

VONews 95
-
06.02.2017
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Avril 2017. Exposition Art Afrique. Le nouvel atelier

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,

Seyni Awa Camara,

Chéri Samba,

Calixte Dakpogan,

John Goba,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Seydou Keïta,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

George Lilanga,

Abu Bakarr Mansaray,

Moke,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé

Avril 2017. Exposition Art Afrique. Le nouvel atelier

Evous

-

By André Balbo

-
03.01.2017
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J.D.'Okhai Ojeikere

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


J.D.'Okhai Ojeikere

Patek Philippe
-
01.12.2016
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Arts plastiques : l'Afrique en guest star à Paris Photo

Omar Victor Diop,

Seydou Keïta,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Emilie Regnier,

Malick Sidibé


Arts plastiques : l'Afrique en guest star à Paris Photo

Jeune Afrique

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By Nicolas Michel

-
10.11.2016
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Artists bend rules of contemporary African art

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


Artists bend rules of contemporary African art

CNN

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By Katy Scott

-
06.11.2016
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Musée d'Art Moderne : nouveaux accrochages dans les collections permanentes

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé


Musée d'Art Moderne : nouveaux accrochages dans les collections permanentes

Arkult

-

By Thaïs Bihour

-
09.03.2016
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Le MAM expose ses nouvelles acquisitions photo

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


Le MAM expose ses nouvelles acquisitions photo

Exponaute

-

By Agathe Lautréamont

-
11.02.2016
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Mode africaine : le cheveu en bataille

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


Mode africaine : le cheveu en bataille

Jeune Afrique

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By Leïla Slimani

-
21.01.2016
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Arts : les 100 Africains les mieux cotés

Pierre Bodo,

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Seydou Keïta,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

George Lilanga,

Gonçalo Mabunda,

JP Mika,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé

Arts : les 100 Africains les mieux cotés

Jeune Afrique
-
11.01.2016
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Les designers africains électrisent Bilbao

Omar Victor Diop,

Seydou Keïta,

Gonçalo Mabunda,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


Les designers africains électrisent Bilbao

Le Monde Afrique

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By Véronique Lorelle

-
23.11.2015
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Photographie : Bamako, le temps retrouvé

Joël Andrianomearisoa,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé


Photographie : Bamako, le temps retrouvé

Le Point Afrique

-

By Valérie Marin la Meslée

-
13.11.2015
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Paris Photo 2015 : du grand classique

Jean Depara,

Seydou Keïta,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


Paris Photo 2015 : du grand classique

Culture Box

-

By Valérie Oddos

-
12.11.2015
Download: PDF
Photographie - J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere : architecture, sculpture et coiffure au Nigeria

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


Photographie - J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere : architecture, sculpture et coiffure au Nigeria

Jeune Afrique

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By Nicolas Michel

-
05.11.2015
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Documenting Mastery Of Photographer, Ojeikere

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


Documenting Mastery Of Photographer, Ojeikere

The Guardian

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By Tajudeen Sowole

-
01.11.2015
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Appreciating Okhaï Ojeikere's Photography

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere


Appreciating Okhaï Ojeikere's Photography

Review of the book about Ojeikere by Bisi Silva

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By Tam Fiofori

-
01.11.2015
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Making Africa. A Continent of Contemporary Design

Omar Victor Diop,

Héctor Mediavilla,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé,

Billie Zangewa


Making Africa. A Continent of Contemporary Design

Zebule Magazine

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 By Guillemette Fougeras   

-
29.10.2015
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Making Africa - Un continente de diseño contemporáneo

Omar Victor Diop,

Héctor Mediavilla,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé,

Billie Zangewa


Making Africa - Un continente de diseño contemporáneo

Artesycosas
-
28.10.2015
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