ENTRY DESCRIPTION
Nigerian Identity is a series of portraits of my fellow countrymen photographed throughout the United States. All people are presented in a uniform manner; photographed on white seamless, looking directly into the camera lens, and enhanced so that the skin tones are virtually identical. The idea behind this approach is twofold: It allows each subject to be defined by his or her own individuality, rather than an internal or external racial stereotype; and it symbolizes the unity of the Nigerian people.

Drawing inspiration from photographers who have created “typologies” of their subjects, including August Sander, Richard Avedon, and the Nigerian photographer J.D ‘Okhai Ojeikere, I use a plain background to eliminate any cultural or ethnic context. Viewers are not allowed to place these subjects in the expected settings, whether of urban disrepair or African wilderness. I want to contest the predictable National Geographic approach to peoples who may be unfamiliar to the photographs’ viewers.

As an African living in America, I find that the line between celebrating and exoticizing African culture is extremely blurry. I attempt to add some clarity to that line by photographing my subjects in an elegant but somewhat serious manner.
While it’s my hope that this will allow viewers to form a connection with the subjects, it’s also my way of forcing viewers to understand what it is like to be “the other.” Above all else it is a reminder that the culture and identity of a people should be always be taken seriously.

AUTHOR
Ima Mfon is a Nigerian photographer who works between New York City and Lagos. He uses fine art photography to explore issues of social and cultural identity. Ima recently earned his Master of Professional Studies in Digital Photography from New York’s prestigious School of Visual Arts, and his work will be exhibited at the Lagos Photo Festival and Art Basel Miami.

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