Women in Culture
A Photograph by Taiwo Arifayan
The hand fan is too small to work as an umbrella, but some women hold it against their foreheads. The gesture is so impractical most of those gathered do not bother to keep from the rain, as though there is a matter more consequential and immediate than the state of their clothing. Here is an assembly, an array. Here are women for whom the blessing and homage is in uniformity, to be not just one but multitude.
— Emmanuel Iduma
“The story we tell today is the history our children would study tomorrow.”
This photograph was taken in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Yoruba culture has well-defined values that include wisdom, integrity, valor, hard work, honor, and wealth. It is impossible to speak of Yoruba ceremonies and festivities without the pomp and pageantry displayed mostly by the way people are dressed; clothing serves as the expression, image, and personality of a culture.
Ojude Oba festival is a festival where affluence meets pomp and pageantry at the king's court. Once a year the illustrious sons and daughters of the Ijebu Kingdom come together in glitz and glamour to pay homage to the king of Ijebuland. It is important to note that women's involvement in the festival has added beauty to the culture of the Ijebu people.
This image is special to me because it shows a beauty that can only be seen during traditional rites and festivities.
For me photography is beyond taking pictures. I am a firm believer in the fact that the story we tell today is the history our children would study tomorrow, which is why it is important to tell our story in the right way and as beautifully as possible. Photography seals some moments forever.
— Taiwo Arifayan
About Taiwo Arifayan
Taiwo Arifayan is a documentary photographer based in Lagos, Nigeria, whose photography works span various genres, including documentary photography and photojournalism. “I’m interested in inspirational and authentic African experiences,” she says, “the essence of which can only be captured during the traditional rites and festivities.” See more of her work on Instagram.
Last Week — Thero Makepe
I asked my mother about this photo recently, and she said that it evokes thoughts of how she'll sometimes walk in darkness early in the morning when she has to wake up early for work, especially in the winter. She walks in darkness on purpose to experience what it must've been like for her father to walk in darkness for 15 years of his life.
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This is the 52nd edition of this publication. The newsletter can also read on web (best for viewing images), and via the Substack iOS/Android apps. Every week I feature one photograph and the photographer who took it: you’d read a short caption from me, and a statement from the photographer. My goal is to support early to mid-career African photographers by engaging with their work. If this newsletter was shared with you, consider subscribing, or forward to a friend. Please whitelist the newsletter to ensure you never miss it. Next week, I’d share notes on the progress of this project, and plans for the second year.