The Naija Experience is a photographic journey celebrating Nigerian culture
The beauty and culture of Nigeria will be showcased in Pittsburgh this weekend in a collaborative effort between three friends who want to share their heritage and creativity.
The Naija Experience, a photographic journey of Nigerian culture, will include a mix of photography, performance, music, food and cultural installations on Saturday at Artists Image Resources (AIR), 518 Foreland St. on the North Side, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The exhibition will feature four collections captured by Pittsburgh-based photographer Chike Joseph, also known as ccjophotography .
"This exhibition is incredibly important to me because it showcases my Nigerian identity, particularly my Igbo heritage. As a hobby photographer, I took all the photos in this exhibition to celebrate how far the Igbo people have come while also highlighting the rich diversity of Nigeria as a whole," Joseph said.
The event is being presented by The Naija Collective PGH and will also feature fashion designer , creative director and event specialist Ifeoluwa Prem; influencer and content creator Teniola Odumosu; and 27 individuals who worked on the four collections. The collections will be for sale and prints are available.
"It's not just about the photos. I wanted people to see, feel, smell, taste and hear Nigeria through the photos, the performances, the food and every element of the event," said Joseph, 29.
Odumosu, 28, is excited for attendees to try the jollof rice, a popular West African long-grain rice dish with bold, savory flavors including tomatoes, thyme, bay leaves, garlic and onions.
The exhibition represents both Yoruba and Igbo heritage in Nigeria. Prem blended traditional elements with contemporary fashion to show the evolution of Nigerian style and its influence on modern trends as seen in the "African Women of the Ton" collection.
"It showed how these fabrics have traveled and evolved over time," Prem, 28, said. "As a Nigerian fashion designer, ensuring these collections authentically represent Nigerian culture was my main focus."
The designs range from everyday wear to evening and formal gowns, with fabrics representing each tribe.
Both Prem and Odumosu are Yoruba.
"The concept of the photoshoot was older Nigerian hairstyles on modern women, hairstyles that were done in the '80s and '90s," said Odumosu, a 28-year-old skincare, haircare and body care enthusiast.
The hairstyles for the photoshoot were done by Pittsburgh master hair stylist Angel Jean, owner of Allure Beauty Bar. The team wanted to bring the cultures together while also showcasing Pittsburgh. Most photoshoots were done in studios owned by Black organizations.
"Moving to Pittsburgh, I felt like something was missing in how Nigerian culture was represented," Joseph said. "While amazing people like DJ Femi, DJ Phemmes and DJ Sims have done fantastic work bringing authentic African culture to the city, I wanted to do something that was specifically tailored to showcase the diversity and richness of Nigeria."
They've been working on the exhibition since May. It is their second exhibit of the year, as they were featured in a gallery during the city's Juneteenth Fusion Fest over the summer.
"Recently, it's been going viral that people don't see a vision for Pittsburgh's future, and I want to challenge that by saying we are the change we want to see, and our future depends on what we do in the present moment," Odumosu said. "Pittsburgh is not the Blackest city, but we can make space for ourselves and each other in spaces that are not rooted in violence or negativity."
On the day of the exhibition, guests can expect to hear music from DJ Pressure (Precious Nwankwo), Violin Speaks (Emmanuel V); art by Osas Oduwa, performance by the University of Pittsburgh's Ya'baso Dance Team and a titled Igbo Chief, High Chief C.O. Ukattah. All are welcome.
"I believe this event will not only enrich Pittsburgh's cultural landscape but also offer a unique opportunity for cross-cultural exchange and dialogue," Prem said.
