J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere

J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere is a groundbreaking monograph on an artist whose work over six decades bears witness to the critical role that photograph has played in the history of Nigeria and throughout Africa. The long-term collaboration with Pa Ojeikere and his studio foto ojeikere led by the artist’s son and photographer, Amaize Ojeikere has provided invaluable advice, expertise, and access over the past five years.

A pioneering initiative to publish over 200 compelling photographs from Ojeikere’s vast archive spanning over six decades of Nigeria’s history. Kickstarter page

The book will feature a selection of more than 200 photographs from the artist’s extensive archive spanning more than six decades. Exploring themes ranging from traditional hairstyles to sartorial portraits and architectural studies, this new publication will feature a stunning collection of high-quality black-and-white photographs, a collection of critical essays, an in-depth interview with the artist, as well as an updated exhibition history, bibliography, and timeline of Ojeikere’s career.  The book is poised to offer a major contribution to the history of African photography and will appeal to photographers, art enthusiasts, as well as to historians and scholars.

Contributors include: artists Jide Adeniyi-Jones and Don Barber, art historians Antawan I. Byrd, Erin Haney, Ikem Okoye, and curators Aura Seikkula and Bisi Silva.

The book is scheduled to launch in October 2014. For more information and to visit the Kickstarter page click here

 

KICKSTATER Updates

UPDATE #9

Publication on J.D. Okhai Ojeikere is READY!!!

It is such a pleasure to now announce that the publication on J.D. Okhai Ojeikere is ready. We want to use this occasion to thank the following individuals who supported us at different Kickstarter levels:

• Olumide Ogundahunsi
• Iria Ojeikere
• Kenneth Montague
• DrJames Ohioma Arukhe
• Touria El Glaoui
• Marie-Cécile Zinsou
• Christa  Clarke
• Jareh Das
• Carol Magee
• Marc-André Schmachtel
• Nomusa
• Maged Bahsoon
• Simon Gusah
• Alexandra Nicole
• Omar
• Missla Libsekal
• Ignatius Olukwu
• Safia Dickersbach
• Oto Nkanga
• Oje Ojeikere
• Olajide Bello
• Caline Chagoury
• Akitobi Oluwole Melvin
• Matthew S. Tierney
• Mercedes Vilardell
• Eckhard Thiemann
• Kimoni Ikutegbe
• Mercy Ilevbare
• Shannon Ayers Holden
• Ann Samuels
• Henrike Grohs
• Axis Gallery
• Elisabeth Prah
• Nana Oforiatta-Ayim
• Onyemowo Ikwu
• Elise Atangana
• Mudi Yahaya
• Praise
• Julie Crooks
• Tutu Agyare
• Demi Akintola

This beautiful book exists because of you. Thank you for taking the beautiful journey with us.

 

UPDATE #8

We Did IT! We Have Done It!

We did it! we did it! WE HAVE DONE IT! Wow!!! What a journey, a beautiful journey. It has been an honour to travel with you all. Thank you so much for coming along. I remember Pa used to say I have done my work to the best of my abilities, now it is your turn to do what you can.   It is a tall order, but we will do the very best we can. We will strive to keep his legacy alive.

Thank You So Much to All of You.  Watch this space for updates on the project.

UPDATE #7

24 Hours to GO! We Can Do It!

This is one of my many favourite portraits by J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere. When his exhibition ‘Sartorial Moments and the Nearness of Yesterday’ was shown at CCA in 2010, I remember Pa asking me if I knew the woman standing next to him. As I didn’t want to get into trouble by not recognising an elder, I hesitated to respond. Finally he said, that is her in the picture. I was gobsmacked. In that moment time was conflated, the past and the present collided. What had been to me an anonymous beautiful woman impeccably dressed was now a good-looking 70+ lady standing next to me. An unforgettable moment. But Pa had that skill of bringing his images to life. He was a natural storyteller. Not only in images but in words. The Ojeikere Monograph has 6 commissioned texts including a 7500 word interview of Ojeikere with Nigerian photographers Jide Adeniyi Jones and Don Barber. A fascinating read indeed.

As we enter the last 24hours of the Ojeikere Kickstarter campaign, words fail me in thanking you enough for your support, for your encouragement and for your sharing. But yet I must say Thank You because this has been amazing experience. It is so symbolic. It shows that we can and must do the important work that needs to be done and we don’t have to wait for anybody to do it for us. We are almost there. Just 300 pounds to reach our target. Please share this information, remind somebody who may have forgotten or reach out to somebody new who might be interested. Better still if you haven’t done so already make a pledge. Make the next 24hours count. I Know We can.

 

UPDATE #6

You Have Done It!!!

Thank you, Thank you so much for your support. This has been a truly motivating experience and we are incredibly thrilled by this outcome, as well as the  future possibilities of publishing on the continent.

We have reached our minimum goal but we still have 3 days before the end of the campaign and want to push the goal post to 15,000 pounds between now and then. Every single pledge counts towards this ambitious project. Please continue to share the information.

Once again thank you so much.

 

UPDATE #5

We just got our 100th pledge!!!

We just got your 100th pledge!  Wow!

That’s incredible. One hundred friends, new and old. We are super excited about the interest in the Ojeikere project. Thank YOU! Please continue to share the information through your network.

 

UPDATE #4

One Week Only Left!!!

We continue to make progress and have passed the £10,000 mark. Once again thank you so much to all of you for the immense support.

 

Some of the rewards include J.D Okhai Ojeikere, Master Photographer. This important intimate 30 minute documentary embodies his journey from a rural setting to city skyscrapers. He talks extensively about the highlights of his 60 year career as a self taught artist.

In the films he informs us that his great love for photography is driven by a passion to “capture moments of history” portray his country “in good faith” and to emphasise ‘the beauty, glamour and identity of the Nigerian woman.”

The documentary was researched and written by Nigerian filmmaker and photographer Tam Fiofori and co-produced by Tam Fiofori and Joel Benson. Finished in 2013 it was released at the beginning of 2014 making it the last documentary of  and by the artist. Let the legacy live on. Please support our kick-starter campaign by sharing the information through your network, reminding potential supporters and even making a pledge that works for you. Thank you!

 

UPDATE #3

As we move closer to realisation!

First of all, a well deserved pat on the back to us all. WE DID IT!!! We have gotten way past the half way mark and we are moving towards the last quarter mile.  I remain humbled by the generosity shown by everyone in so many different ways. Thank you so, so much to every single one of you. By sharing the information through your network as well as the pledges you have made the publication of this important monograph is closer to becoming a reality. This is just incredibly exciting!  I know we can do it!. Your assistance is needed even more to take us to the finishing line.

J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere, HD35 1969, ”NA POI KIKO” Courtesy foto ojeikere

I love this hairstyle image by Ojeikere called “Na Poi”. I never get tired of looking through his archive because each image heralds a new lesson. As many Fela Anikulapo Kuti fans will know, he also released an album called Na Poi in the early 70s. I am still researching the significance of this term which is the title of a hairstyle as well as an album.  If it is like “Onilegogoro” (the title of a song, a building, a hairstyle and a headgear in the late 60s.) then I am presuming there is a similar history behind Na Poi and i intend to find out.  But first lets complete the campaign successfully. Let’s keep the legacy alive, lets continue to ask these questions.

This final push needs a collective effort otherwise we will not receive any of the funding. With Kickstarter it is all or nothing and we need it ALL. Making the diversity of Ojeikere’s archive accessible is important in gaining a deeper insight into his work and the context in which it was produced. This publication attempts to provide that. With over 200 images and 6 texts most of which are newly commissioned, it will be the most comprehensive book on the artist so far.  There are so many people who have shown interest in the project who at this stage may need a gentle reminder about this campaign. Over the following 8 days please support any way that you can including by sharing this link through you networks, making that phone call to a potential supporter or even making a pledge. We Can Do It!

 

UPDATE #2

13 days to go!!!

We have come a long way with this campaign reaching almost 50% of our target. Known friends and new friends have been overwhelmingly supportive in getting us this far. I would like to thank you all for your time and assistance. You have been SO amazing!

International Affairs in Victoria Island Lagos Photo ‘Okhai Ojeikere, Untitled ARC-0155-1968

With only 13 days to go your support is needed even more, otherwise we will not receive ANY of the pledges that have been made. Unthinkable!. Well Kickstarter is an all or nothing affair.  Please share this information through your network, remind someone who has shown some interest to act now because the deadline is approaching. Let’s make this happen together. Let’s keep Ojeikere’s legacy alive.

 

UPDATE #1

The Ojeikere Campaign is One Week Old! And Growing Strong!

J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere, Untitled, ((PORT) 019), 1955. Courtesy foto ojeikere and CCA, Lagos

The campaign is one week old today and it has been an amazing period full of trepidation and excitement. Pressing the publish button can be harrowing experience as you launch your project to the world not knowing how it will be received. However we are extremely happy with the incredible results. The interest, support and encouragement have been beyond our expectations and I cannot thank all of you enough. Thank You!

The design of the publication is taking shaping and I just received a 2nd draft of what it will look like.  Almost all the images are ready though there are a few that have suffered the wear and tear of time.  But that is what is exciting about working with such an old archive, through the challenges we learn more about how to conserve and preserve these negatives better.   I also like that we may be able to include some of the images as they are because they do speak to the age of the archive.

Above is one of my favourite (of so many) images taken by Ojeikere in 1955, nearly 60 years ago. Wow!!! I like to imagine what would have happened to this young lady. What became of her? And those are the moments that I miss the presence of Pa Ojeikere because he was an incredible storyteller. There are so many of the people in his archives that he can tell you their stories. What was happening on this day, who she was, what kind of life they would have had, and in some cases he will talk about their children making the images of a past time come to life in the present. I also like this image because it encapsulates the essence of Ojeikere’s work which went against colonial visualisation to present the individual as a modern subject in charge of their identity and its representation. These are the kind of wonderful images that will be included in the publication. Many of which have never been printed or published before. Other images will be shared in future updates.

We still have a long way to go in reaching our target with this campaign and we need your support even more to spread the information, remind your network by sharing this update with them and better still make a contribution. Thank you for your support.