Main content

Nigerian photographer鈥檚 iconic 'Hairstyles' series

In 1968, J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere, who was known as Nigeria鈥檚 top photographer, started documenting women鈥檚 hairstyles in his iconic photo series.

J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere, who was known as Nigeria鈥檚 top photographer, started documenting women鈥檚 hairstyles in 1968. He built up a portfolio of around 2,000 negatives revealing the elaborate ways African women styled their hair through his series of black and white photos.

A selection of his 'Hairstyles' prints was displayed at the Venice Biennale in 2013. Reena Stanton-Sharma speaks to his son Amaize Ojeikere, also a photographer, about his father鈥檚 work.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the 鈥業ndian Titanic鈥� and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy鈥檚 Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and G枚rel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they鈥檝e had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America鈥檚 occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: 'Hairstyles' by J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere. Credit: Teresa Suarez/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Available now

11 minutes

Last on

Wed 21 May 2025 02:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Tue 20 May 2025 07:50GMT
  • Tue 20 May 2025 11:50GMT
  • Tue 20 May 2025 17:50GMT
  • Tue 20 May 2025 21:50GMT
  • Wed 21 May 2025 02:50GMT

Featured in...

Podcast