From Lagos to London, Olaniran’s Eyo Photographs Take Centre Stage
Adedayo Adejobi x-rays the recent work of Ademola Olaniran, who currently serves as Senior Special Assistant Media and Visual Communications to the Governor of Lagos, at the London Mayor’s Show
Ademola Olaniran’s striking photograph of the Eyo Masquerades frozen in gyration at the Lord Mayor’s show in London on November 12, 2023, reached far beyond words or a cultural display, to creating a masterpiece that leaves a mystical imprint on the soul and presents an opportunity for conversations, soul-searching questions, and encouraging reflections.
To stare at it is to be teleported to the 17th century, an era associated with the origins of the Eyo Festival in Lagos State, Nigeria, where costumed dancers representing the spirits of ancestors would perform a dance ritual to the rhythmic sound of drums as they sought to usher in a new king or honour an esteemed guest.
For Ademola Olaniran, arguably one of Nigeria’s finest fine-art photographers, creating art through photography goes beyond happenstance. Instead, it is a premeditated composition of a subject within the limitations of time, surrounded by life as it occurs before a camera’s shutter is released. It is one of anticipation, where visual elements of positioning, colour, light, and shape collaborate with artistry and technicality to capture an unguarded moment that would otherwise have been hard to describe.
Click, and a magical moment that would outlive generations is frozen in time—each frame is a celebration of life’s unguarded moments. It is the unposed, unplanned, sheer serendipity that Ademola chases—a laugh mid-flight, the blur of a racing car, the swirl of a dress. His adoption of the 35mm camera is revolutionary, akin to a writer discovering the pen after years of the quill.
When asked about his raison d’être on his artistic journey, Ademola, who is set to exhibit a new collection in a few months, responds, “I have made it a goal to be intentional and ensure that every image I capture is not just a creation of art but one laden with a strong story, because I feel that allows me to convey a message in a very unique yet powerful way. Fine art photography allows me to come up with ideas for images that are a lot more conceptual, where the end result is more of a catalyst for a larger discussion about various topics”.
And this brings us back to the photograph of the Eyo performance at the Museum of London which has received accolades from both the Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and The Lord Mayor of London, Michael Mainelli; thus transcending a cultural display of the enigmatic, fast-paced, and beautiful Lagos and placing the city at the centre of global conversations about Africa’s role in the 21st century. It is a statement of identity, resilience, and the transformative power of culture steeped in the art that Lagos so richly embodies. This all-important narrative is crucial in changing global perceptions and showcasing Nigeria’s and Africa’s potential and achievements in various fields, as championed by cities like Lagos.
A picture may be worth a thousand words. Still, a camera in the hands of a seasoned storyteller like Ademola Olaniran, is an extension of his vision, enabling the seizing of the ephemeral with a candidness that translates into a mosaic of moments that together sing an ode to a period witnessed. And this, for any discerning mind, is worth more than a thousand words!
