Nigerian photographer’s iconic 'Hairstyles' series
Witness History20 Maj 2025

Nigerian photographer’s iconic 'Hairstyles' series

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)

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