The light is a borderline, separating a sitting, barefoot man from the other side of a door. He is posed as though he has only a fraction of time for the photograph, as though even if genial he is not completely welcoming of the interruption. Yet his pose—the spread of his legs, tautness of his turban, the fix of his glare—tell also of what is appreciable about the encounter he’s having with the photographer. In the hint of a garment beside his, it is equally clear the photograph is a selection of sorts, a moment made from many. And above him, in the cream-coloured wall, a criss-cross of symbols are arrayed, their meanings fixed or historic, tell-tales for an age to come.
— Emmanuel Iduma
The picture was taken at the Emir Palace in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
When I approached the subject, I began with greetings, followed by a few jokes, and then I asked if I could take a picture of him because I liked his clothes, which he confidently agreed to.
The day I took the photographs, I forgot my camera batteries at home, which I didn't realize until I was about to begin photographing. My friend had to lend me some battery packs. I doubt I'll be able to take those photographs without the assistance of my friend. This, I believe, is why the image is special to me.
My approach to photography has always been one of curiosity and the desire to preserve beautiful elements of cultural significance for future generations to come.
Photography is an artistic tool whose purpose is to create memories and images that can be used to tell stories in various forms. While the average person may see it as nothing more than holding a camera and pressing the shutter, this form of art has had far-reaching effects in our daily lives that we may not have noticed.
Storytelling in photography aids in the creation of awareness, the shaping of narratives, the countering of narratives, and the documentation of people and events for future reference.
Photography aids in the shaping of perspectives, particularly from an objective standpoint.
And lastly—which I believe is the most important because I can relate to it—is that photography can be used as a form of therapy. It has been shown to help people suffering from anxiety and depression.
Abdullahi Ahmad is a self-taught visual storyteller from Katsina State, Nigeria. He has a great passion for documenting and curating stories about life, culture and ancient architecture and people of Northern Nigeria. You can see more of his work on Instagram.
