Thread by @araisokun

It’s #WorldPhotographyDay2020 so this #thread is a curation of photographers and photography in Nigeria - and, yes, it may not be exhaustive.
I start with a photographer being described as the “first indigenous photographer”
artnews.com/art-in-america…

Meet George S A Da Costa, born in the present-day Lagos, who in 1895 invested £30 to train as a photographer and went on to set up a thriving photography business. He was described as the “ablest and best known professional photographer in Nigeria".

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Da…

Mr Da Costa's works were featured in "The Red Book of West Africa" (1920) and they include pictures of the construction of the railway tracks from Lagos to Jebba to Kaduna. #WorldPhotographyDay2020
africainthephotobook.com/2019/04/08/the…

Chief Solomon Osagie Alonge learned photography in the 1920s and was what today would be called the "Official Photographer of the Oba of Benin" from around 1933. #WorldPhotographyDay2020
smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-in…

It was only recently that I knew that his original name wasn't Jackie Phillips as almost everyone knew this celebrated portrait photographer as. He was 1 of the earliest Nigerians to train as photographer in London. #WorldPhotographyDay2020 thephillips.co/the-jackie-phi…

One other Nigerian who trained in photography (although it was called Graphic Communications) was Oloye Dotun Okubanjo.
I did a thread in 2018 about one of his works.

https://twitter.com/araisokun/status/983097182625652738?s=20

This is a portrait of Oloye Dotun Okubanjo #WorldPhotographyDay2020

At a point in Nigeria, his name became synonymous with photographer: Peter Obe, my uncle.
premiumtimesng.com/news/143987-ic…

As Daily Times Chief Photographer, Peter Obe groomed folk who became iconic photographers. He was known in the Group as "Mr Exclusive" as he got rare pictures of events, especially in Lagos where his 35 Alhaji Masha Street studio also became a legend. #WorldPhotographyDay2020

I think @GuardianNigeria started the concept of Photo Editorsship in the #NGNpress. Sunmi Smart-Cole was that newspaper's first Photo Editor. He trained many who later occupied the position there and in other media houses.
sunmismartcole.com #WorldPhotographyDay2020

As Sunmi Smart-Cole held sway in the newspaper, so did Jide Adeniyi-Jones, who had been trained in the United Kingdom, on the magazine side of the paper. Yes, there was a magazine called African Guardian.
omenkaonline.com/beyond-the-len… #WorldPhotographyDay2020

Sunmi and his son, Tobi

I call him Brother Tam.
Tam Fiofori has, for the three or so decades that I have known him, been a freelance photographer, filmmaker, author, critic, etc. #WorldPhotographyDay2020
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tam_Fiofo…

So also has Don Barber been fiercely independent. #WorldPhotographyDay2020
(poor visual, sorry)

I had skipped Pa Jreturn to editorial photographers....
Pa J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere to talk about editorial photographers. This will give you an idea of who he was and his works. #WorldPhotographyDay2020
ccalagos.org/publications/o…

The story of photography in Nigeria is incomplete without the story of "Bola Oguns" who started as a studio photographer and went into the importation of photographic materials. He is into some many other things now. #WorldPhotographyDay2020
scurrimania.blogspot.com/2018/09/an-acc…

Speaking of importers of photographic materials, Hajia Bola Shagaya, yes, the same one, with her Bolmus International introduced Konica brand of photographic materials into Nigerian and West African markets. #WorldPhotographyDay2020
entrepreneurs.ng/bola-shagaya/

Cornelius Oyemade is in a class of his own. A society photographer he may be but he goes shooting the gaily-dressed women. @CityPeopleMagz has a beautiful story on him, at 80. #WorldPhotographyDay2020
citypeopleonline.com/ace-photograph…

A parade of photographers in the various genres - portraiture, creative, editorial, art follows. I post them as I remember them. It would be nice to have your thoughts on the #thread. To photographers all around the world, keep shooting. #WorldPhotographyDay2020

As he describes himself in his profile - topflight photojournalist - so he is, this dude @EkpeiPius
twitter.com/ekpeipius?lang…

Who settled to full-time studio art after obtaining a law degree and called to the Nigerian Bar in 1993?
kelechiamadiobi.com

She came into the limelight through music. Remember the Kush Band Trio - she, @Vzhun and @Larageorge. Then, suddenly, every other portrait bore her signature- T Y Bello. #WorldPhotographyDay2020

tybello.com/photography/

I believe that I first encountered works of @AishaAK49 here on Twitter.
What has she got to show?
aisaugie.shutterchance.com/archive/

When you are looking for a photographer with a mastery of the Niger Delta creeks, George Osodi is it. I interacted with him on Bonny Island when @nigeriaLNG wanted to commission some photographic projects.
georgeosodi.photoshelter.com/index
#WorldPhotographyDay2020

After being an award-winning photojournalist, @GbileOsha became a teacher of photojournalists.
creativephotomasterclass.com.ng/faq-items/gbil…

Boye Ola teaches at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism whilst @walejay teaches at the Lagos State Polytechnic.
linkedin.com/in/wale-ajayi-…

#WorldPhotographyDay2020

I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with some of these photographers including Sunmi Smart-Cole, Jide Adeniyi-Jones, @EkpeiPius, @walejay @GbileOsha, Mudi Yahaya (strange I can't find anything on him) and @adolphopara
instagram.com/p/BoWgVKhFAjO/…
#WorldPhotographyDay2020

So also with @koleDey who now teaches Yoruba at the University of Florida and recently turned 60
theculturenewspaper.com/ade-odutola-ce…

And, now, regularly with @Stylomedia

https://twitter.com/araisokun/status/1284747905472110592?s=20

#WorldPhotographyDay2020

When my alma mater, Ibadan Boys' High School turned 80, it was Richard Enesi I commissioned to do the photography. But, Richard, who died last year, was more than a photographer.
web.facebook.com/IBHSAt80/posts…
#WorldPhotographyDay2020

I have also had some exciting working relationship with @FunmilayoAjala
instagram.com/p/B_9WAZLlyjT/
#WorldPhotographyDay2020

See the photographic side of @aninoritse
aninoritse.com
#WorldPhotographyDay2020

Half-full or half-empty? It is @ShinaBadaru asking

https://twitter.com/ShinaBadaru/status/1255591677600894984?s=20

When there is any need for a shot and @PeluAwofeso is nearby, expect him to give it his best shot. This was at last year's #OrikadunFestival in Igbara-Oke

And, every now and then, I take some photographs too. Maybe not like Peter Obe did, but I do try.
web.facebook.com/taiwo.obe/post…
#WorldPhotographyDay2020

Please fill in any gaps. Many thanks.
#WorldPhotographyDay2020