Lengths of lace descend from ceiling to floor in dense vertical folds. Each fabric carries its own weather of light. Emerald, burgundy, cobalt, cream, violet: the colors overlap on one another, their embroidered surfaces catching the light differently as they fall. Beneath them, half-obscured in shadow, a small speaker rests on the floor. It is an ordinary object among the excess of glamour. These textiles are not folded away but suspended, awaiting touch, measurement, and decision. The image preserves the quiet interval before purchase, when fabric is yet to become clothing.
— Olaniyi Omiwale
I photographed this in Mararaba Market, Nasarawa, Nigeria. I went fabric shopping and after combing through the wooden stalls on muddy ground, I found a father and daughter duo with the variety of fabric I needed. Purchasing a fabric is not something you do in a hurry. So, while I sat on the wooden bench, waiting, I took the picture.
I chose this photograph because of its relatability, especially to the average Nigerian woman. Festivities are interwoven into the fabrics of our culture and clothing is a big aspect of that. As a young woman, at one or multiple points, no matter the region in Nigeria, you have probably gone to stores to buy fabric for an occasion. Laces, brocades etc. Selecting desired fabric for an occasion, with your mom, aunties, friends or even alone is a rite of passage. It’s in our cultural makeup.
I see photography as record keeping. So, I aim to preserve stories that depict identity, material culture and the people that makeup places. Beyond that, I believe photography has the power to foster social change, promote relevant conversations and preserve what is dear to humanity.
Kamsi Awforkansi is a photographer and archivist whose practice is rooted in record keeping. Through photography, she documents identity, material culture, and everyday life in African communities. She is growing ‘Archive by Kamsi’, using photography to preserve what is at risk of being lost. See more of Kamsi Awforkansi’s work on this website and on her portfolio.
