At the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, the morning hum pauses as worshippers gather and engines fall silent.

BLESS THIS DAY

In the Lagos heat, where engines roar and horns never rest, survival takes creativity. This hawker moves between bumpers and exhaust smoke, carrying his goods with the calm of someone who’s mastered chaos. Every step is a story of survival — and every sale, a small victory against the odds.

Traffic Hustle

While her mates are out playing under the sun, she works tirelessly beneath it. Not because she doesn't know how to play like her peers, but because she knows that no matter how small her efforts may seem, it will definitely help her parents put food on the table.

Arike Stepping Up 

Egúngún are elaborate, costumed figures and masquerades from the Yoruba tradition, representing the spirits of departed ancestors (Ara Orun) who visit the living to offer blessings, guidance, and entertainment. These masquerades are characterized by vibrant, layered costumes made from various fabrics and adorned with symbolic items, with performances involving drumming, dancing, and storytelling to connect with the community's past and reinforce family bonds.  To view the egúngún solely as performers is to miss the point. They are the central node in a continuous, vital conversation between the living and the dead. They carry the knowledge of the lineage, reminding the living of their obligations to family, community, and tradition. Their songs, chants, and proverbs often contain teachings handed down through generations. By re-enacting history and ancestral roles, they ensure that cultural knowledge does not vanish. They embody the àṣẹ of the ancestors, keeping the community connected to its roots. During appearances, specific egúngún may manifest as a particular, known ancestor, speaking in their voice and recounting their deeds. This is a powerful form of historical reenactment and education, making history tangible for the youth. Also, the Egúngún serve as intercessors between the living and the Divine. interceding on behalf of the individual or society.   The egúngún is a repository of law, history, medicine, ethics, and art. They hold this wisdom not in static archives, but in a living, dancing, judging, and prophesying institution that ensures the community never severs its link to the source of its identity and strength. They are the ultimate expression of the belief that the dead are not gone, but are active, wise elders watching over and guiding the living.

Egúngún 

Shot on a mobile aspherical lens. original shot from the university of Ibadan Nigeria

Tales from nostalgia 

The photograph tells a story of solitude and transition. It depicts a quiet, overgrown stretch of road that serves as a hidden refuge from the city noise happening on the highway above.  The dark, lush foliage and the concrete overpass create a tunnel effect, casting the foreground in deep shadow. This darkness contrasts dramatically with a blinding white light that floods the end of the curve, representing a "promise" or the re-entry into the busy world.  A single motorcycle is stopped on the side of the road, suggesting a moment of pause or contemplation before the journey continues toward that intense light. The scene is suspended between the safety of the shadows and the inevitable return to daylight and chaos.

A PAUSE IN SOLITUDE

Amazed by her newly learnt ability. This young girl's first reaction was fear. She ran far away from the drone, but her fear quickly turned to curiosity. The other kids still ran away whenever they saw it, and she too was scared, but her curiosity was stronger than her fear, so she approached us and watched with amazement as the drone flew overhead, several times. For the five days that I spent working in their small community, I committed to teaching her to fly the drone, and when she finally could control it unaided, she truly felt like a superhero. Her courage had paid off and she gained a valuable skill that distinguishes her from her peers. I imagine a Nigeria where children are taught to overcome fear, and to embrace curiosity. Where skills are not hidden behind an age wall that doesn't need to exist. 

The amazed girl pilot

This photograph is just a photograph. No story behind it as it is up to you to determine whatever Mr. Okada man is.

MR. OKADA MAN

A better Nigeria, not just in the building, but in the structure of our educational system

A Vision of a New Nigeria

Present-day Nigeria where there is inadequate empowerment for handwork

One story at a time