Cultural Coifs: Rich Nigerian Tradition Captured in Bold Hairstyle Images

The photograph series "Hairstyles" reveals striking looks.

Hair-Raising Works of Art - At 20 years old, Nigeria-born and based photographer J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere purchased his first camera — a Kodak Brownie — in 1950. Two decades later, he honed his skills photographing the elaborate, sculptural hairstyles worn by local women. Since then, his work has been featured in more than 50 exhibitions worldwide, including this year’s prestigious Venice Biennale. Keep reading to see the braids, twists and knots that inspired this internationally renowned artist. —Patrice Peck(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

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Hair-Raising Works of Art - At 20 years old, Nigeria-born and based photographer J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere purchased his first camera — a Kodak Brownie — in 1950. Two decades later, he honed his skills photographing the elaborate, sculptural hairstyles worn by local women. Since then, his work has been featured in more than 50 exhibitions worldwide, including this year’s prestigious Venice Biennale. Keep reading to see the braids, twists and knots that inspired this internationally renowned artist. —Patrice Peck(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

Modern Suku HD 916/75, 1975 - From Lagos, Nigeria, to Helsinki to Houston, Ojeikere’s series Hairstyles has been exhibited throughout the world.(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

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Modern Suku HD 916/75, 1975 - From Lagos, Nigeria, to Helsinki to Houston, Ojeikere’s series Hairstyles has been exhibited throughout the world.(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

Mkpuk Eba HD 694/74, 1974 - The empty background emphasizes the sculptural qualities of each bold hairstyle as seen here in this elegant design.(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

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Mkpuk Eba HD 694/74, 1974 - The empty background emphasizes the sculptural qualities of each bold hairstyle as seen here in this elegant design.(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

Star Koroba HD 229/71, 1971 - Through capturing the hair fashions of the late 1960s and 1970s, Ojeikere also documented Nigeria’s cultural identity while referencing ancestral tribal traditions.(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

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Star Koroba HD 229/71, 1971 - Through capturing the hair fashions of the late 1960s and 1970s, Ojeikere also documented Nigeria’s cultural identity while referencing ancestral tribal traditions.(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

Atiai HD 262/70, 1970 - The collection contains nearly 1,000 hairstyles that the photographer snapped on the street, at work, at weddings and other local events.(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

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Atiai HD 262/70, 1970 - The collection contains nearly 1,000 hairstyles that the photographer snapped on the street, at work, at weddings and other local events.(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

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Udoji HD 838/75, 1975 - Ojeikere launched his professional career in 1954 working as a darkroom assistant at the Ministry of Information in Ibadan, Nigeria. In the wake of Nigeria’s decolonization in 1960, he was hired as a studio photographer at the nation’s first television station, Television House Ibadan.(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

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Udoji HD 838/75, 1975 - Ojeikere launched his professional career in 1954 working as a darkroom assistant at the Ministry of Information in Ibadan, Nigeria. In the wake of Nigeria’s decolonization in 1960, he was hired as a studio photographer at the nation’s first television station, Television House Ibadan.(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

Onile Gogoro Or Akaba, HD 275/75, 1975 - Committed to exploring Nigerian culture since the start of his career, Ojeikere also joined the Nigeria Art Council, a collection devoted to the development and promotion of the country’s art and culture, in 1967.  (Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

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Onile Gogoro Or Akaba, HD 275/75, 1975 - Committed to exploring Nigerian culture since the start of his career, Ojeikere also joined the Nigeria Art Council, a collection devoted to the development and promotion of the country’s art and culture, in 1967.  (Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

Ife Bronze HD 323/72, 1972 - The absence of the subjects' faces in these portraits pushes the viewer to consider each style as an abstract work of art.(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

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Ife Bronze HD 323/72, 1972 - The absence of the subjects' faces in these portraits pushes the viewer to consider each style as an abstract work of art.(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

Pineapple HD 14/69, 1969 - “All these hairstyles are ephemeral. I want my photographs to be noteworthy traces of them,” Ojeikere told My Modern Met. “I always wanted to record moments of beauty, moments of knowledge. Art is life. Without art, life would be frozen.”(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

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Pineapple HD 14/69, 1969 - “All these hairstyles are ephemeral. I want my photographs to be noteworthy traces of them,” Ojeikere told My Modern Met. “I always wanted to record moments of beauty, moments of knowledge. Art is life. Without art, life would be frozen.”(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

Shangalti, NES 306/71, 1971 - Hairstyles is currently on display at the 55th International Art Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia until Nov. 24.(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)

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Shangalti, NES 306/71, 1971 - Hairstyles is currently on display at the 55th International Art Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia until Nov. 24.(Photo: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere/Courtesy of Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp)