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HD176/70 (Fro Fro)

Photograph
1970 (photographed), 2012 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Nigerian photographer J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere (1930-2014) is best known for his photographs documenting a range of traditional and modern hairstyles worn by Nigerian women. He began the series in 1968 while travelling across the country with the Nigerian Arts Council, which was established to promote national culture following Nigerian independence from British colonial rule in 1960.

‘Fro Fro’ is the nickname for this hairstyle, which Ojeikere attributed to the Mikiki family. The hairstyle would be worn for all occasions, traditionally by unmarried women. The Yoruba people of Southwest Nigeria and West Africa, from which many of these hairstyles derive, often adopted different braiding styles depending on their marital status. Hairstyles with braiding in a horizontal direction from ear to ear were generally worn by single women.

Over the course of his life Ojeikere recorded almost a thousand hairstyles, each photographed using the same format. He always included a close range rear view perspective, which illustrated his belief that the styles were ‘sculptures for a day’. The series is of historic and anthropological significance, as well as aesthetic value.

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
  • HD176/70 (Fro Fro) (assigned by artist)
  • Hairstyles (series title)
Materials and techniques
Gelatin silver print
Brief description
Photograph by J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere, 'HD-176/70 (Fro Fro)', from the series Hairstyles, gelatin silver print, Nigeria, 1970, printed 2012
Physical description
A black and white photograph of a black woman's hairstyle seen from the back. The hairstyle is braided close to the head in a horizontal striped pattern, with the ends of the braids tied above the ears. The woman wears dangling spherical earrings. The photograph is taken from the neck upwards against a plain white background.
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)
  • Photography Centre, 2018-20: 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 Ojeikere documented traditional and modern hairstyles worn by Nigerian women. He photographed his subjects using a consistent rear view perspective, focusing on the intricate patterns and shapes created by the hair. Ojeikere’s photographs capture the artistry of the forms, which he described as ‘sculptures for a day’. Gelatin silver prints Museum nos. E.231 to 234-2013
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
Nigerian photographer J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere (1930-2014) is best known for his photographs documenting a range of traditional and modern hairstyles worn by Nigerian women. He began the series in 1968 while travelling across the country with the Nigerian Arts Council, which was established to promote national culture following Nigerian independence from British colonial rule in 1960.

‘Fro Fro’ is the nickname for this hairstyle, which Ojeikere attributed to the Mikiki family. The hairstyle would be worn for all occasions, traditionally by unmarried women. The Yoruba people of Southwest Nigeria and West Africa, from which many of these hairstyles derive, often adopted different braiding styles depending on their marital status. Hairstyles with braiding in a horizontal direction from ear to ear were generally worn by single women.

Over the course of his life Ojeikere recorded almost a thousand hairstyles, each photographed using the same format. He always included a close range rear view perspective, which illustrated his belief that the styles were ‘sculptures for a day’. The series is of historic and anthropological significance, as well as aesthetic value.

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
Bibliographic reference
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere/Photographs Zurich; Berlin; New York: Scalo, 2000 Illustrated on page 74 and discussed on page 156 as follows, 'Page 74 FRO FRO This style is from the Miliki family, but it was given a pet name. It is a hand-woven Oni Didi for all occassions. HD 176/70'
Collection
Accession number
E.232-2013

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Record createdJanuary 16, 2013
Record URL
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