The distribution in the photograph is uneven, such that more people appear on the right side of the frame than on the left. Shot in front of a building, the photo seems unposed. In the foreground are women of advanced age who sit with their hands on their lap. And with them are an assortment of items: a purse, a cola drink, a cane, a handkerchief, some naira notes, and a brown bag. Their gazes are turned in different directions, away from the camera. The woman in the centre is an exception. And her face bears the hint of a smile as subtle as the glimpse of the raised foot close to the doorway, which retreats into the dark.

— Zenas Ubere

This photo was taken in my village after my father’s 60th birthday mass in our Anambra home. The subjects of the photo are my paternal grandmother in the middle looking directly at me, flanked on both sides by my grand aunties. I think about this photo a lot – sad about how in the next 20 years or so these women would not be here, but also joyful because I immortalized them with this single photograph. 

I recently began a project titled Archiving Igbo Joy and “Ndi Nne Ochie” is part of the project. This archival project seeks to celebrate the beauty and depth of Igbo culture and serves as a platform to critique aspects that require evolution. In particular, by capturing and highlighting the invaluable contributions and significance of women in Igbo traditions, I intend to spotlight and challenge the patriarchal system that has historically marginalized women and girls within Igbo societies. 

I chose this photograph because it has unconsciously become a fusion of everything I hope to do with my work as an artist and documentary photographer: documenting women, documenting the mundane moments of the lives of the ordinary Igbo person, and archiving the Igbo culture. 

Photography is essential in preserving our history, telling our stories and gauging growth or stagnancy. I will always be an advocate for documentation, whether it is of self or of others. There is a slow erasure of the way of life of the Igbo people due to globalization/westernization, migration, the declining economy, lack of preservation of important sites, history not being properly taught in schools, etc. That is why this year I will continue the process of documenting the customs, traditions, joys, history and shortcomings of the Igbo people. 

— Amarachi Nnoli

Amarachi Nnoli (b. 2000, Enugu, Nigeria) is a photographer and photojournalist living and working in Lagos. Amarachi’s photography embodies a dual nature, blending conceptual and documentary styles, capturing both the imagination and reality of her subjects. Her work centres the conversation around the erasure and documentation of women in different fields within the structures of familial relationships. See more of her work on Instagram.