J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Born in 1930, Ovbiomu, Nigeria
Died in 2014, Lagos, Nigeria, where he lived and worked
mama-tolu
Mama Tolu, 2004
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Headgears
Gelatin silver print
19,7 x 23,6 inches
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Headgears
Gelatin silver print
19,7 x 23,6 inches
OOHG105.04E
Download : Artwork notice
yinka
suku-sesema
Suku Sesema, 1977
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Hairstyles
Gelatin silver print
19,7 x 23,6 inches
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Hairstyles
Gelatin silver print
19,7 x 23,6 inches
OOHD950.77E
Download : Artwork notice
pineapple
Pineapple, 1974
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Hairstyles
Gelatin silver print
19,7 x 23,6 inches
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Hairstyles
Gelatin silver print
19,7 x 23,6 inches
OOHD412.74E
Download : Artwork notice
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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NEWS
PUBLICATIONS
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
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Author : André Magnin & Mehdi Qotbi
Editor : Langages du sud
2017
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
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Author : Suzanne Pagé, André Magnin, Angeline Scherf, Ludovic Delalande
Editor : Fondation Louis Vuitton, Dilecta
2017
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
J.D'OKHAI OJEIKERE Photographies
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Author : André Magnin
Editor : Edité par André Magnin Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain / Actes Sud, Paris
2000
PRESS
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
L'Abbaye de Daoulas, un incontournable de l'été
Ouest France
17.07.2018
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J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Nigerian women's elaborate hairstyles - in pictures
The Guardian
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By Kathryn Bromwich
23.06.2018
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J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Daoulas. Balades photographiques à l'abbaye
Actu
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By Aurélie Berlet
21.04.2018
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J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Un hommage à la beauté des coiffures nigérianes
Ouest France
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By Aude Kerdraon
30.03.2018
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J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
La coiffure nigériane à l'honneur à l'Abbaye de Daoulas
Ouest France
11.03.2018
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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
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By Valérie Duponchelle, Sophie De Santis, Margaux d'Adhémar
10.07.2017
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J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Exposition J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere : photographe culte de la coiffure nigériane
FAB
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By Daphné Segretain
03.07.2017
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Seydou Keïta,
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,
Malick Sidibé
L'Afrique loin des clichés exotiques à la Fondation Louis Vuitton
Geopolis Afrique
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By Laurent Filippi
29.06.2017
Download: PDF
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
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By Pascal Jouary
23.06.2017
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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
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By André Balbo
05.06.2017
Download: PDF
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
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By Florence Yeremian
26.05.2017
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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
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By Miss Rozen
25.05.2017
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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
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By André Balbo
20.05.2017
Download: PDF
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
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By Valérie Oddos
19.05.2017
Download: PDF
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
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By Suzanne Pagé
01.05.2017
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J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,
Malick Sidibé
Five Artworks to See at Fondation Louis Vuitton's Art/Africa
Another Magazine
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By Hannah Tindle
28.04.2017
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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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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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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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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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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
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By André Balbo
03.01.2017
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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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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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J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,
Malick Sidibé
Musée d'Art Moderne : nouveaux accrochages dans les collections permanentes
Arkult
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By Thaïs Bihour
09.03.2016
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J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Le MAM expose ses nouvelles acquisitions photo
Exponaute
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By Agathe Lautréamont
11.02.2016
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J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Mode africaine : le cheveu en bataille
Jeune Afrique
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By Leïla Slimani
21.01.2016
Download: PDF
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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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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Joël Andrianomearisoa,
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,
Malick Sidibé
Photographie : Bamako, le temps retrouvé
Le Point Afrique
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By Valérie Marin la Meslée
13.11.2015
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Jean Depara,
Seydou Keïta,
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Paris Photo 2015 : du grand classique
Culture Box
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By Valérie Oddos
12.11.2015
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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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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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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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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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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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Born in 1930, Ovbiomu, Nigeria
Died in 2014, Lagos, Nigeria, where he lived and worked