Photographer JD 'Okhai Ojeikere, known for documenting African hairstyles, dies at 83

JD 'Okhai Ojeikere, a leading African photographer, passed away in Lagos, Nigeria, at age 83. He gained renown for his extensive black-and-white series capturing over a thousand African hairstyles, blending anthropological insight with formal composition that gave the designs an architectural quality. His career began in 1950 when he started using a camera at 20, and he joined the Western Nigerian Broadcasting Services in 1959. Ojeikere moved to Lagos in 1963 and later became part of the Nigerian Arts Council, initiating the Hairstyle series in the late 1960s to document cultural traditions. His work was featured in major international exhibitions, including the 2007 Documenta curated by Roger M. Buergel and the 2013 Venice Biennale curated by Massimiliano Gioni. Ojeikere's photographs are celebrated for their meticulous documentation and artistic form, highlighting Nigeria's cultural heritage.