{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1259932"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1259932/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1259932","accessionNumber":"E.231-2013","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"HD849/75 (Abebe)","type":"assigned by artist"},{"title":"Hairstyles","type":"series title"}],"summaryDescription":"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. \r\n\r\nIn the Yoruba language spoken in Southwest Nigeria ‘Abebe’ describes a type of hand fan. The Abebe hairstyle mimics the weave pattern of these circular fans and would be worn for special events. Ojeikere credited this example of the style to ‘Elegant Twin Sisters, Lagos’. \r\n\r\nOver 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. \r\n\r\nThe V&amp;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&amp;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&amp;A and oral histories conducted by Black Cultural Archives.","physicalDescription":"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 fans out from a central point. The ends of the braids are positioned on top of the head tumbling down in curls onto the scalp below. The woman wears dangling earrings and a beaded necklace. The photograph is taken from the neck upwards against a plain white background. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Ojeikere, J. D. 'Okhai (Mr)","id":"AUTH322310"},"association":{"text":"photographer","id":"x43821"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"photographic paper","id":"AAT14190"}],"techniques":[{"text":"gelatin silver process","id":"AAT139114"},{"text":"photography","id":"AAT54225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gelatin silver print","categories":[{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"},{"text":"African Diaspora","id":"THES48873"},{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Hair and hairstyles","id":"THES258945"},{"text":"Fans","id":"THES253017"}],"styles":[{"text":"documentary","id":"x37881"},{"text":"art photography","id":"AAT178594"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"none","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"516","id":"THES49526"},"free":"","case":"COS","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photograph","id":"AAT46300"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Nigeria","id":"x30055"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1975","earliest":"1975-01-01","latest":"1975-12-31"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"2012","earliest":"2012-01-01","latest":"2012-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"E.232-2013","id":"O1259934"},"association":"Series"},{"object":{"text":"E.233-2013","id":"O1259935"},"association":"Series"},{"object":{"text":"E.234-2013","id":"O1259936"},"association":"Series"}],"creditLine":"Supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"30","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"30/09/2013","earliest":"2013-09-30","latest":"2013-09-30"},"part":"paper","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"30","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"30/09/2013","earliest":"2013-09-30","latest":"2013-09-30"},"part":"image","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"38","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"30/09/2013","earliest":"2013-09-30","latest":"2013-09-30"},"part":"paper","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"38","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"30/09/2013","earliest":"2013-09-30","latest":"2013-09-30"},"part":"paper","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"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.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Photograph by J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere, 'HD-849/75 (Abebe)', from the series <i>Hairstyles</i>, gelatin silver print, Nigeria, 1975, printed 2012","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere/Photographs Zurich; Berlin; New York: Scalo, 2000","id":"AUTH330241"},"details":"Illustrated on page 18 and discussed on page 155 as follows, 'Page 18 ABEBE This style is named after a hand fan because it looks like one. Worn for special events. Courtesy of Elegant Twin Sisters, Lagos HD 844/75' ","free":""}],"production":"This photograph was printed in Paris from the original negative, then sent to Nigeria for approval, then shipped to London","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"hairstyles","id":"x35829"},{"text":"jewellery","id":"AAT209286"},{"text":"necklace","id":"AAT46001"},{"text":"earrings","id":"AAT45998"},{"text":"plaits","id":"x45956"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Text label for the exhibition, 'Staying Power: Photographs of Black British Experience, 1950s-1990s\r\n16 February – 24 May 2015\r\n\r\nJ.D. ’Okhai Ojeikere (1930 – 2014)\r\nHD-849/75 (Abebe); HD-176/70 (Fro Fro);\r\nHD-14/69 (Pineapple); HD-557/74 (Beri Beri)\r\nFrom the series Hairstyles\r\n1969 – 75\r\nUntitled, HG 423-04; Untitled, HG-535-04;\r\nUntitled, HG-457-04; Untitled, HG-689-05\r\nFrom the series Headties\r\n2004 – 5\r\nIn these photographs, Ojeikere documented traditional\r\nand modern hairstyles and headties worn by Nigerian\r\nwomen. He photographed his subjects using the same\r\nrear view perspective, focusing on the intricate patterns\r\nand shapes created by the hair and fabric. Ojeikere’s\r\nphotographs capture the artistry of the forms, which\r\nhe described as ‘sculptures for a day’.\r\n\r\nGelatin silver prints\r\nMuseum nos. E.227 to 234-2013","date":{"text":"16/02/2015-24/05/2015","earliest":"2015-02-16","latest":"2015-05-24"}},{"text":"<b>Photography Centre, 2018-20:</b>\r\n\r\nJ.D. ’Okhai Ojeikere (1930–2014) \r\nHD-849/75 (Abebe) \r\nHD-176/70 (Fro Fro)\r\nHD-14/69 (Pineapple)\r\nHD-557/74 (Beri Beri) \r\nFrom the series Hairstyles\r\n1969–75\r\n\r\nOjeikere documented traditional and modern hairstyles worn by Nigerian women. He photographed his subjects using a consistent rear view perspective, focusing on the intricate patterns and shapes created by the hair. Ojeikere’s photographs capture the artistry of the forms, which he described as ‘sculptures for a day’.\r\n\r\nGelatin silver prints\r\nMuseum nos. E.231 to 234-2013","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["E.231-2013"],"accessionNumberNum":"231","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2013,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2013-01-16","availableToBook":false}}