Barber culture is something of a phenomena in West Africa. Andrew Esiebo, whose images focus on social and cultural transformations in his home Nigeria, was particularly taken with the obvious sense of pride associated with barbering. In 2016 Back in 2016, Andrew, who was born and raised in Lagos, created a series named Pride on the relationship between hair, grooming, and identity, capturing the bustling communal hubs that are West African barbershops in great detail.
According to an article by It’s Nice That, Andrew recounts meeting a barber in Lagos who proudly included an ex-president among his clients in his artist statement. “It is this sense of pride, and the varied methods in which it is acquired,” he adds, “that defines the foundation of this endeavor.” The series creates a pleasant and perceptive portrayal of these culturally significant locations by filling them to the brim with posters, novelty furniture, TV sets, and vividly painted walls.
