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Untitled, HG-689-05

Photograph
2005 (photographed), 2012 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Photographer J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere (1930-2014) was born in the village of Ovbiomu-Emai in Southwest Nigeria. He began to document Nigerian culture in 1967 while part of the arts council, which was established following the country’s independence from British colonial rule in 1960.

His photographs include examples of the elaborate headties traditionally worn by Nigerian women, known as ‘gele’. The standardised rear view format of Ojeikere’s photographs of gele link them to his larger series of modern and traditional Nigerian hairstyles photographed in the same way. Both series focus on the artistry of the forms created, which Ojeikere referred to as ‘sculptures for a day’.

Gele are traditionally tied at the back using asọ-oke; a stiff, hand woven cloth which can be manipulated to stand away from the head, creating dramatic shapes. The head wraps originate from the Yoruba people in Southwest Nigeria. They are now largely worn for ceremonial occasions. Yoruba culture places great emphasis on the head and both gele and hairstyling became ways to convey social status.

The V&A acquired eight photographs by J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere documenting hairstyles and headties as part of the Staying Power project. Staying Power is a five year partnership between the V&A and Black Cultural Archives. The project aims to explore black British experience from the 1950s to the 1990s through photographs acquired by the V&A and oral histories conducted by Black Cultural Archives.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Untitled, HG-689-05 (assigned by artist)
  • Headties (series title)
Materials and techniques
Gelatin silver print
Brief description
Photograph by J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere, 'Untitled, HG-689-05', from the series Headties, gelatin silver print, Nigeria, 2005, printed 2012
Physical description
A black and white photograph of a black woman wearing an elaborate headtie seen from the back. The photograph is taken from the shoulders upwards against a plain background. The woman wears a patterned outfit with cap sleeves. Her headtie is created with patterned fabric tied at the back of her head on the left side so that the fabric fans out in rough folds much wider than her head.
Dimensions
  • Image width: 30cm
  • Image height: 30cm
  • Paper width: 38cm
  • Paper height: 38cm
Styles
Gallery label
Text label for the exhibition, 'Staying Power: Photographs of Black British Experience, 1950s-1990s 16 February – 24 May 2015 J.D. ’Okhai Ojeikere (1930 – 2014) HD-849/75 (Abebe); HD-176/70 (Fro Fro); HD-14/69 (Pineapple); HD-557/74 (Beri Beri) From the series Hairstyles 1969 – 75 Untitled, HG 423-04; Untitled, HG-535-04; Untitled, HG-457-04; Untitled, HG-689-05 From the series Headties 2004 – 5 In these photographs, Ojeikere documented traditional and modern hairstyles and headties worn by Nigerian women. He photographed his subjects using the same rear view perspective, focusing on the intricate patterns and shapes created by the hair and fabric. Ojeikere’s photographs capture the artistry of the forms, which he described as ‘sculptures for a day’. Gelatin silver prints Museum nos. E.227 to 234-2013(16/02/2015-24/05/2015)
Credit line
Supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund
Object history
The V&A acquired this photograph as part of the Staying Power project. Staying Power is a five year partnership between the V&A and Black Cultural Archives. The project aims to explore black British experience from the 1950s to the 1990s through photographs acquired by the V&A and oral histories conducted by Black Cultural Archives.
Production
This photograph was printed in Paris from the original negative, then sent to Nigeria for approval, then shipped to London
Subjects depicted
Summary
Photographer J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere (1930-2014) was born in the village of Ovbiomu-Emai in Southwest Nigeria. He began to document Nigerian culture in 1967 while part of the arts council, which was established following the country’s independence from British colonial rule in 1960.

His photographs include examples of the elaborate headties traditionally worn by Nigerian women, known as ‘gele’. The standardised rear view format of Ojeikere’s photographs of gele link them to his larger series of modern and traditional Nigerian hairstyles photographed in the same way. Both series focus on the artistry of the forms created, which Ojeikere referred to as ‘sculptures for a day’.

Gele are traditionally tied at the back using asọ-oke; a stiff, hand woven cloth which can be manipulated to stand away from the head, creating dramatic shapes. The head wraps originate from the Yoruba people in Southwest Nigeria. They are now largely worn for ceremonial occasions. Yoruba culture places great emphasis on the head and both gele and hairstyling became ways to convey social status.

The V&A acquired eight photographs by J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere documenting hairstyles and headties as part of the Staying Power project. Staying Power is a five year partnership between the V&A and Black Cultural Archives. The project aims to explore black British experience from the 1950s to the 1990s through photographs acquired by the V&A and oral histories conducted by Black Cultural Archives.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
E.230-2013

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Record createdJanuary 16, 2013
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