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| Akinleye |
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| Crowded pedestrian bridge |
It is
generally believed that a picture tells a million stories. Each passing day, spectacular
events take place in different parts of the country, but it takes someone with
an eagle’s eyes to use his camera to capture them.
One of the
few great photo journalists in Nigeria, whose photos have told unforgettable
stories, Akintunde Akinleye, showcased his works in Lagos last week Sunday,
April 19, 2015 and the exhibition attracted people from all walks of life.
Tagged:
“Each passing Day’, the solo exhibition unveiled Akintunde’s documentation of
Nigeria in his 15-year-old career in photojournalism. The exhibition is also classified
to mirror a number of separate phenomenon and daily activities of the Nigerian
citizens.
Crucial to
his documentation of the post military era in Nigeria, are the trials,
tribulations and joys of Nigerian citizens as they struggle to achieve a better
standard of living. Some of the pictures are mostly about social, political and
physical landscape of Nigeria.
Also, some
of the images were taken out from different documentary projects and spot news
events, but motivated by the Nigerian space during the last decade and now. Each
Passing Day showcased a review of Akintunde’s style, good taste for aesthetics
and activism.
Speaking on
why he’s showcasing his works, Akintunde said, although he has exhibited some
of his works in many countries of the world, the current exhibition is his
major show. “I needed to showcase my works to people because most of them don’t
know my works. For example, there is a picture I took in 2006 and I saw it somewhere
and was angry. There was an argument over its owner. That is how the urge to
exhibit my works was born.”
Commenting
on Akintunde works, the Acting Head, Department of Mass Communication,
University of Lagos, Mrs. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, said the exhibition shows
that hard work pays. “Akintunde has done photojournalism for 15 years and we
have not had this kind of outing before. They have concluded an arrangement and
told him that the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited wanted
to sponsor his solo exhibition. That confirms what we teach people in school
that hard work pays. While one is working, people are watching. He’s doing his
work and enjoying himself and giving his best to his profession and people were
watching. Today, they are all glad. The turn-out is quite impressive. We should
be proud of our own and we should continue to promote the works of our own,”
said.
Generally, a
lot of prefer to attend events and take societal photographs, but Akintunde’s
works are unique, what is your take on that? She was asked. “Some people in different
professions are jobbers, while a few have the calling. Of course, Akintunde has
the calling. People will take your photograph, print it, give it to you and expect
gratification. You can see that his works are quite different. Let’s do our
jobs with passion. I am a teacher, I love teaching and I give it my all. I know
too well that he loves his job. Anything photography, Akin is there. His
photographs tell you stories. Let us love our jobs. If you are in a profession
because of pecuniary gains, you are not likely to go far,” Ogwezzy-Ndisika added.
Also
speaking on Akintunde’s works, the Director of Omenka Gallery, Mr. Oliver
Enwonwu, stated that he was not expecting anything less. “Akintunde is a
brilliant photographer. He is respected all over the world. He is operating at
the peak of his profession and his works are very impressive. He documents everyday
living and iconic events including explosions in different parts of Nigeria. Some
of these things are taken for granted but he is doing his works in a powerful
way which brings us to think about these things. His photographs are award-winning
works. It shows that photography is carving its niche in the Nigerian art
market and space,” he emphasized.
Born in 1971,
Akintunde is the first Nigerian Photographer to have been awarded a prize in
the prestigious World Press Photo, Netherlands in 2007 with an iconic
photograph of a man rinsing soot from his face at the scene of an oil
pipeline explosion in Lagos, December 2006. It was the beauty of a tragedy
which claimed the lives of 269 people that made the official signage of the
19th edition of international photojournalism festival in Perpignan, France in
2007.
An award fellow of the National Geographic Society- All Roads photo project,
Akintunde has attended conferences and seminars in editorial and documentary
photography in Ethiopia, Kenya and Lagos. He has made presentations of his work
and papers at the University of Stanford in the United States, Amsterdam and
other major cities around the world.
In June
2008, while attending a fellowship programme at the University of Texas at
Dallas artistes' project, he produced a body of work that culminates oil
production in Texas. He was a resident fellow of the Thami Mnyele Art
foundation in Amsterdam.
In 2012,
Akintunde was nominated for Prix Pictet photography award on sustainability for
his work : Delta, A vanishing wetland.
He has read for two master's degrees in Educational Technology and Mass
Communication at the University of Lagos and a post-graduate diploma in
Journalism at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, after a Bachelor's degree
in Social Studies.
Akintunde
has had his work exhibited in Washington, Los Angeles, New Mexico, Lagos,
Amsterdam, Graz, Bamako, Madrid, Munich, U.K and Pordenone in Italy. He had
once been commissioned for assignments in Mauritania, Niger and
Nigeria and currently pursues projects in African culture and traditions!
He lives
in Lagos and works for Reuters in Nigeria.
The exhibition
was powered by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited and Lagos
photo, among others.
Below, are
some of the photographs being showcased at the exhibition which kicked off on
Sunday, 19, 2015 at red Door Gallery, Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island,
Lagos, and will end on May 3, 2015.
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| Each passing day, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria |
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| Lagos sand merchants 1, September 2011 |
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| Lagos sand merchants 46, September 2011 |
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| Some guests at Akinleye's photo exhibition |
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| Strong teeth Africa, Mushin, Lagos |
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| Train |
Senate President David Mark today, April 23, 2015, with some senators to pay a courtesy visit to President elect Gen Muhammadu Buhari
