Nigerian photographer, Lakin Ogunbanwo has been caught schooling Vogue on the traditional Nigerian attire featured in his photographic series, based on hats.
The talent’s work – which debuted earlier this year in his solo exhibition, “Are We Good Enough?” – is currently in showcase in New York, as part of an exhibit by digital platform Nataal and Brooklyn-based gallery, Red Hooks Labs.
READ MORE: NATAAL LAUNCHES NY AFRICAN PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT
Speaking to Vogue, Mr Ogunbanwo explains;
“For Nigerian men, a hat adds a sense of confidence, it’s like a personal crown.
It’s only until you leave West Africa that you realise that people elsewhere aren’t dressing their head with the same importance that we do here.”
In the article, published yesterday on the magazine’s site, Vogue shows off what’s it’s learned of the “silent hierarchy” behind the Igbo tribe’s red cap and the Yoruban abet aja, and what its team know of the Nigerian style scene, calling the well-dressed inhabitants “colorfully dressed peacocks.”
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Best still is the recognition of the photographer’s work, with the Lagos-based creative described in the article as a;
“Nigerian photographer whose portraiture edges fashion and culture into the spotlight.”
Team SPICE reckon he’s all that and more – but take a look at Vogue‘s pieceon Lakin Ogunbanwo’s portrait series here and let us know what you think, by tagging us in your thoughts online @SPICETVAFRICA.
Image source: Vogue.com, @Nataalmedia
