Ntutu Mara Mma (Beautiful Hair)


Hair has been at the center stage for defining and identifying culture and heritage. Over the course of history, humans have had (and still have) a fixation on these tough proteins called keratin that sprout out of our bodies, most noticeably, our scalps. The African continent and Her people have not been left out of this adulation as it has been used not only to enhance the beautification of the wearer but also to share a deeper meaning.

In early African civilizations, hairstyles could indicate a person's family background, tribe and social status; a person's identity could be learned by looking at the hair. It was also used to mark significant activities  and events such as war, death or connecting with deities. For instance,  in modern Senegal and The Gambia when men from the Wolof tribe went to war they wore a braided style, While a woman in mourning would either not "do" her hair or adopt a subdued style. What's more, many believed that hair, given its close location to the skies, was the conduit for spiritual interaction with the gods: perhaps why it was regarded as kinky hair and known to defy gravity. 
Ntutu Mara Mma (Beautiful Hair) investigates the change in trends of African hair styles with emphasis on West Africa as it seeks to draw attention to various symbolic references African hairstyles have taken up, from its African Origins to Slavery and Emancipation, the Civil Rights Era and finally how it is viewed and interpreted in Contemporary Modern Culture.


Ntutu Mara Mma (Beautiful Hair)

Anyi na Aga
(We Are Going)

The blue and white or sometimes red and white checkered bags popularly known as Ghana - Must - Go gained both popularity and an attachment to migration during the 1980s in Nigeria - West Africa - when millions of Undocumented Ghanian Nationals were expelled from Nigeria. Many of whom used the bags to pack up and courier their  belongings back to Ghana, giving the bags their name. 

In recent times and with the advent of globalization, migration of people across neighboring boarders, oceans and far continents have become a more reoccurring theme. Many people migrate seeking  better economic prospects, job opportunities, education and marriage; carrying with them their belongings, cultures and beliefs. 

Anyi na Aga- We Are Going- through the lens of fashion, explores the themes of migration and heritage as they relate to the above mentioned points. While aesthetically drawing on the symbolism of the Ghana - Must - Go bags as they have been linked with the idea of travel and migration. 

Anyi N'aga (We Are Going)

Clothing is and has always been an integral part of most cultures around the world. In Africa, several tribes have adopted different clothings to connote both daily wear and to mark significant events in their societies such as birth, death, war and marriage. The indigenous people of West Africa are known to wear vibrant colours which they fashion out of a popular fabric called Ankara. 
 Ihe Na Adigi Omimi which is Igbo and when translated means Skin Deep, is based of my African heritage of being both Nigerian and Igbo. It draws inspiration from both African Skin and the vibrant colors Ankara fabric has. The aim and objective of this project through both still photographs and animated video clips is to celebrate “Africaness” through style and fashion as key tenants. it also hopes to show that these go deeper than just garments and In most cases, highlights African culture and traditions.


Ihe Na Adigi Omimi - "Skin Deep"

Fashion editorial inspired shoot using light to create shapes and patterns 

Add

Obinna Obioma