Photography has become one of the most lucrative professions in recent years and the rise of female Nigerian photographers proves just that.
Some of these women have emerged as forces to reckon with in this field making a name for themselves in a male-dominated field.
Some of their names may sound familiar to you, and others may not but what you should know is that when it comes to handling a camera, these women know their onions.
Here are seven Nigerian female photographers that you should know.
1. TY Bello
We know you were expecting that but will this list ever be complete with the multi-talented Toyin Sokefun-Bello popularly known as TY Bello?
Born in 1978, she is a singer, photographer, and philanthropist. As a photographer, she has worked with some of the most prestigious names in Nigeria.
TY Bello was the official photographer of former President Goodluck Jonathan during his tenure in office. She is famously known for discovering the former bread hawker, Olajumoke Orisaguna in 2016.
2. Fati Abubakar
Fati Abubakar is a documentary photographer and photojournalist. Born and raised in Maiduguri, Borno State, she focuses on documenting conflicts, poverty, and rural development using photography as a medium to highlight these problems.
Her work has been featured in the New York Times, CNN, BBC, Reuters, etc.
3. Yagazie Emezi
Yagazie Emezi is a Nigerian artist and self-taught photojournalist. She focuses on telling stories surrounding women’s health, sexuality, and education in Africa.
Born in 1989 in Abia and raised in Aba, she started her photography career in 2015. A defining moment in her career was in 2017 while living in Liberia. For ten months, as a photographer with a non-profit, she documented the impact of education for girls in at-risk communities.
She is a recipient of the 2018 inaugural Creative Bursary Award from Getty Images. In 2019, she became the first black African woman to photograph for National Geographic Magazine.
Her clientele portfolio includes The Washington Post, National Geographic, Al-Jazeera, The New York Times, Vogue, Newsweek, etc.
4. Adeola Olagunju
Adeola Olagunju is quite unique in her works which are usually conceptual and deep. She is a critical, creative, meditative, and passionate artist.
Her images speak volumes as they stage the photographer’s attempt to break free from the norm of photography. If you are into the more cerebral and emotional aspects of photography, Adeola is the girl for you.
Some of her works have been exhibited at galleries and museums including Palais des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles, Bonhams in London, and Rencontres d’Arles.
5. Aisha Augie-Kuta
Aisha Augie-Kuta is an ideological photographer and filmmaker whose works span across documentaries, fashion, and ariel photography. Her works portray the two sides of a story in gender and identity. Aisha creates works that visual art forms captured through her lens.
Born in 1980, Aisha is the daughter of the late Senator Adamu Baba Augie. She is the current Director General for the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC). Previously she was the Special Adviser (Digital Communications Strategy) to the Federal Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning. She was also the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Kebbi State, Nigeria on New Media.
One of Nigeria’s most celebrated photographers, she is a recipient of many awards and recognitions locally and internationally including The Future Awards Africa Creative Artist of The Year in 2011.
6. Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko
Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko is a leading Nigerian contemporary photographer and artist. Her fascination with the Yoruba culture is obvious in her works with her exploration of the various aspects of the Lagos life as themes in her work.
Born in 1978 in Enugu State, to a Nigerian father and German mother, she studied advertising photography in Germany before returning to Nigeria to set up her photo studio, Camara Studios in 2007.
The leading contemporary photographer also uses her work to document and educate women on breast cancer. She is married to popular advertising guru, Steve Babaeko.
7. Tolani Alli
Tolani Alli is an acclaimed documentary photographer. Daughter of the former secretary to the Oyo State Government, Olalekan Alli, she gave up her medical career to follow her passion for photography. She rose to prominence when she became the first-ever female documentary photographer to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and the first to occupy the role in Nigeria.
She was appointed by ex-vice President, Yemi Osibajo as his official photographer in 2019.