If you ever thought hair does not need much emphasis, you have not been to Nigeria!
JD Okhai Ojeikere, one of the most famous photographers of the 20th century, who started the famous series known as the Nigerian Hairstyles series, started a personal project back in 1968 and it emerged to have over 1,000 photographs clicked in 40 years, making it among the largest.
He has captured hair designs from intricate patterns, sculptural qualities, and levels of abstraction. It differs from the complex hairstyles that were present back in the days and hence, he would focus on capturing the hairstyles innately than capturing the backdrop.
Although Nigerian hairstyles are considered to be art forms, they represent precise meanings and might have implied meaning. There are some designs that are paraded based on social occasions or celebrations, while the rest are sported in typical days of the lives of individuals. It can also reflect the social status of an individual and might have been passed over since the past generations, which can all be seen in this work.
