Karimah Ashadu's Films Explore Masculinity in Nigeria at Camden Art Centre

Karimah Ashadu's exhibition at Camden Art Centre in London is on display until March 22, 2026. It features three films that dive into male-centered spaces in Nigeria. The films include Cowboy (2022), which tells the story of a horseman from northern Nigeria; MUSCLE (2025), focusing on bodybuilders in a Lagos area; and King of Boys (Abattoir of Makoko) (2015), which captures the daily life at a Makoko slaughterhouse. Ashadu, raised in Nigeria before moving to Lagos and Hamburg, uses a sensory ethnographic approach in her work, blending visual art with anthropology. While the films provide deep insights into male experiences, they also reflect Ashadu's diasporic perspective. Voiceovers in Cowboy and MUSCLE reveal vulnerability, with a poignant Hausa quote from the cowboy.