Untitled (Onile Gogoro Or Akaba)
- Artist: J.D. Okhai Ojeikere
- Date: 1975, printed 2012
- Medium: Photograph, gelatin silver print on paper
- Dimensions: image: 300 x 300 mm
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
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About this artwork
This is “Untitled (Onile Gogoro Or Akaba)” by J.D. Okhai Ojeikere. The image is a gelatin silver print, a black and white photograph that captures a close‑up of a Nigerian woman’s face and hair. The title hints at a hairstyle – “Onile Gogoro Or Akaba” – a phrase that translates roughly to “the woman’s head and hair.” The photograph was taken in 1975, but the print we see here was created in 2012, giving it a crisp, archival quality.
Ojeikere was a key figure in Nigerian modernism, and this work sits right in that movement, celebrating everyday subjects with a quiet dignity. The focus on the woman’s hair and face invites us to consider how personal identity and cultural tradition intertwine. Notice the texture of the hair, the subtle play of light and shadow, and how the composition draws the viewer into a moment of quiet intimacy.
Overall, the piece is a striking example of how a simple, unadorned portrait can become a powerful statement about heritage and modern artistic expression.
See it in person
Untitled (Onile Gogoro Or Akaba) is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
