A Peep into 1979,
celebrating Tam Fiofori 2009 exhibition at Didi Museum. This is one exhibition that reshaped our he(arts). Tam Fiofori, born in 1942, in Okrika, Rivers State, and passing away on June 25, 2024, was a visionary whose lens captured the soul of Nigeria. From the streets of Benin City to the bustling life of southern Nigeria, his photographs told stories that transcended time, preserving the essence of a culture in motion.

A pioneer in both photography and filmmaking, his works illuminated the beauty, complexity, and resilience of his people. With a heart as deep as his vision, Tam Fiofori’s contributions shaped the narrative of an era, and his legacy will forever echo through the images he so masterfully created.

In his passing, we celebrate the artistry, the spirit, and the unyielding passion that defined his extraordinary life.

Ibadan, the city with a large fortress. And that’s the historians acclamation for one of the largest cities in Africa. Again, art and culture connoisseur refer it also as a ‘city of seven hills.’ Yes! The hills are there. In fact, the city is referred to as ‘Oke-Ibadan, because of the hilly features it presents. ‘Oke’ a Yoruba word, figuratively, means a hill.

Moving around the city, you may find yourself in such places as ‘Oke – Sapati, Oke -Are, Oke-Mapo, Oke-Ado, Oke-Itunu, Oke-Bola, Oke Padre and Oke-Mokola the place of my birth, imagine!

And not ‘Oke’ makes Ibadan city unique one, kindly move around more and discover the pleasure of the city being guided by ‘Idi’ or bums that will make every woman to be green with envy. ‘Idi’, figuratively means a bum or buttocks. Then you go again and discover places like ‘Idi Ayunre’, Idi Arere, Idi Ape, Idi ishin, Idi Obi, Idi Ito, Idi Ose, what a delight for any photographer.

Ibadan city is full of photographic expression. Just believe, from topographic nature of the city, historical markets, many relics in honour of the pantheons, the literary prowess captured in historical buildings and synonymous with the city and historical murals documenting historical accounts of the ancient city to television house. The city is a complete monument on its own. Every part of the city will make any professional working with sound and light have enough materials to work on. Better, Nigerian masked musician popularly known as ‘Lagbaja’ and his myriad of music videos or Mainframe and Tunde Kelani, a filmmaker are both testament to stories about Ibadan.

My family photographer, Uncle Solo, a name we all grew up with and became a constant feature in our family documentation took our breathe away countless times with iconic images of my family. And for over thirty years, Uncle Solo set his light and demonstrations to create a beautiful collection of my family in photos. I knew him always shouting unseen birds coming to make us cool and gave us funny nicknames like my younger sister Ayobami that he would address as ‘Omomopiya’ and more, just to make us smile and open our scattered teeth just to get his shots right. We always peeped in like the real peeps. In my mind, Uncle Solo was the greatest photographer I have ever seen.

I got an invitation to attend ‘A Peep into 1979’, an exhibition, celebrating arts and culture by the legendary photographer, Tam Fiofori at Didi Museum, Victoria Island in 2009. Tam Fiofori, definitely is one big uncle in the art and culture sector. He is not just a photographer, Tam is also a filmmaker, seasoned writer and columnist. Meeting Tam Fiofori at Didi museum, alongside notable photography legends and enthusiasts like Pa Okhai Ojekere and Don Barber, Chief Okonta of Nkem gallery, actually made me to have another rethink of referring my dearest Uncle Solo as the greatest.

Think about it, thirty photographs, all taken thirty years ago when Tam Fiofori was in his thirties and exhibited thirty years after, astonishly segmented into three experiences he encountered in his odyssey, after in an iconic space like Didi. He simply defines his mission with class!

The exhibition celebrated the Benin Kingdom coronation of a king, the political campaign atmosphere of presidential aspirants towards the presidential election in 1979 and the party culture, popularly refer to as ‘Owambe’ in Nigeria.

Tam Fiofori has continously used his lens to celebrate people, inspire ideas and launch innovations in history. His works expose the human express in him, as he runs, struts, jumps, even gate crashes to take his shots that are perfectly well done, since failure is not an excuse for him.

Firstly, the process of coronation of the Benin monarch, the 38th Oba of Benin, on March 23rd, 1979, Omo N’oba Nedo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa, was a complete showcase of a monarchical institution. A first class documentation by fine boy Tam. From initiation, the challenge of Ogiamen, ekassa dancers and coronation proper were captured in poetic fashion.

second republic presidential campaigns among the power house in Nigeria politics, despite the tensions within the process, the build up to 1979 general elections in Lagos took the photographer to the zenith. One interesting moment is, Tam was able to make himself available at the different rallies of each party that were done on the same day. Since the military decided to hand over to a democratic government, Tam Fiofori, then, actually, was performing a civic duty.

It was like being at the frontline for the mercurial photographer, a sprint from Lagos Island to Ikeja and the International Airport to photograph and grab headlines three prominent aspirants namely, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Alhaji Shehu Shagari all on the same day was phenomenal and executed by a phenomenon.

This is the root of relaxation in Nigeria. It is a party culture that has become part of our historical evolution. The culture ‘Owambeism’ is synonymous with the Yoruba speaking tribe of South west Nigeria. From fashion, food and music, every energy expended is always worth the trouble.

Tam Fiofori documented cultures and societies with a class of touch peculiar to him alone. He is a cultural ambassador of note. His lens captured the dancing and spraying of wads of notes which is the hallmark of an Owambe party in Nigeria. The party in question was organized by the Ijebu people who are renowned in ‘Owambeism’
It was a house-warming ceremony in Ijebu.

As I gazed at these beautiful collections inside Didi, what came to my mind, was my Uncle Solo odyssey. He might have sojourned everywhere as well. All the negatives may have been stored somewhere. That I cannot phantom.

While Uncle Solo was like the king of photography to us, or our own ‘Joromi ‘ apologies to Sir Victor Uwaifo, the other uncle Tam, polished his skill through education that distinguished his photography ‘uncleness.’ This long life decision propelled him faster in the photography business.

But not so bad, I have seen some of Uncle Solo’s collections apart from me and my family. And they are indeed classic!

Some were taken with breathtaking style such as Cocoa House at Dugbe, WNBC, Ishan masquerade dancers from Edo State, University of Ibadan convocation ceremonies, unaccredited images of 1980 Africa Cup of Nations at Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s state visit to Oyo state after the 1980 Ogunpa river flood that rendered many Ibadan residents homeless, private commissions of portraits.

Also, he had compilations of shots about the Mokola roundabout. Roundabouts? So many in the ancient city. It is referred to as ‘Orita’ in Yoruba language. Simply hire a local taxi driver, possibly an Ibadan indigene who is a smooth talker and storyteller, not a talkative, ask him to drive you through the city, you will probably discover roundabouts such as Orita Challenge, Orita Aperin, Orita Molete, Orita Ayeye, Orita Foko, I can go on. But don’t ask me about the markets in the city, huh!

Words /Ireho Aito/photographs /Tam Fiofori /Google