HD557/74 (Beri Beri)
Photograph
1974 (photographed), 2012 (printed)
1974 (photographed), 2012 (printed)
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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.
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. This hairstyle is a modern version of a traditional style called ‘Beri Beri’ found in some parts of Northern Nigeria.
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.
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. This hairstyle is a modern version of a traditional style called ‘Beri Beri’ found in some parts of Northern Nigeria.
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
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| Materials and techniques | Gelatin silver print |
| Brief description | Photograph by J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere, 'HD-557/74 (Beri Beri)', from the series Hairstyles, gelatin silver print, Nigeria, 1974, 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 pattern which creates vertical stripes up the scalp. The ends of the braids are positioned on top of the head and tied together to form a triangle. The woman wears earrings and a beaded necklace. The photograph is taken from the top of the neck upwards against a plain white background. |
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| 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. 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. This hairstyle is a modern version of a traditional style called ‘Beri Beri’ found in some parts of Northern Nigeria. 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. |
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| Bibliographic reference | J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere/Photographs Zurich; Berlin; New York: Scalo, 2000
Illustrated on page 66 and discussed on page 155 as follows, 'Page 66 BERI BERI A modern version of a traditional hairstyle called "Beri Beri", found in some parts of Northern Nigeria. It is hand-woven. HD 557/74' |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.234-2013 |
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| Record created | January 16, 2013 |
| Record URL |
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