Nigerian photographer Aderopo Afolabi is gaining international recognition for a research-led photographic practice that explores Black identity, African fashion, and the social representation of underrepresented communities.
Graduating from the MA Photography course at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) in 2022, Aderopo went on to win the Portrait of Britain in 2023 for his project focusing on Black women and Afrocentric fashion. Aderopo’s winning image was displayed on digital billboards across major UK cities and was selected as the cover image for Volume 5 of Portrait of Britain.
Working primarily with portraiture, Aderopo’s practice examines how culture, history and lived experience shape identity, particularly for communities that remain marginalised within mainstream visual culture. His work positions photography as both an artistic and social tool, combining academic research with personal narratives to ensure cultural accuracy, ethical representation and social responsibility.
Since winning Portrait of Britain, Aderopo has continued his work on hijab-wearing women in fashion, which challenges exclusion and discrimination within the industry while advocating for broader representation.
The project has been exhibited internationally, including selection for the ALARA Hijabi Exhibition in Lagos, highlighting its relevance to contemporary conversations around diversity, inclusion and fashion ethics.
“I wanted to try to address the discrimination Muslim women, mostly hijab women in fashion, faced in the fashion industry most especially in modern day Britain,” Aderopo explains. “Modest fashion is often misunderstood; I wanted to show that hijab-wearing women express confidence and identity in their own way. The world needs to understand and accept that.”
Aderopo says his time at AUB played a formative role in developing his critical approach to image-making, enabling him to merge conceptual research with community-focused storytelling.
“I work on artistic work that explores storytelling and advocates for underrepresented women in the community.”
With his latest project, Aderopo documents the Albinism Advocacy Pageant, an initiative that celebrates the visibility, beauty and confidence of women living with albinism. The project is a collaboration with Misturah Abisola Owolabi, founder of Misty Glam Company, Nigeria’s first albinism advocacy organisation.
“For the albinism project, I collaborated with this organisation that advocates for Women with Albinism. I attend fashion shows in London and Nigeria and it’s very, very rare to find a person with albinism on the runway.
“Fashion is everywhere. Fashion is a language that everyone expresses in a different way. These are fearless women stepping forward to challenge the world's narrow definition of beauty. Their confidence, elegance, and presence is a reflection of fashion.
“Fashion transcends social, religious and cultural divisions, while allowing individuals to express identity on their own terms.”
Since graduating, Aderopo has collaborated on some campaign shoots for African design fashion brands, both in the UK and Nigeria.
“Last year I had the opportunity to shoot for three fashion brands at the Lagos Fashion Week – MALITÉ, E.S.O by Liman, and Y’WANDE," he says. “It was my first time officially shooting for a proper brand at Lagos Fashion Week and it was an incredible experience, I loved it!”
Further recognition for Aderopo’s work includes being shortlisted for the Royal Photographic Society’s International Photography Exhibition and an editor’s feature at the Sony World Photography Awards.
These achievements position Aderopo among a growing generation of Nigerian artists gaining global attention for culturally rooted, socially engaged practices.
“Where I come from in Nigeria, art is not a widely acceptable career choice," he explains. "I’ve been very lucky to be supported by my family and friends, as well as my professor at AUB, Paul Wenham-Clarke.
“I struggled a bit when I’d just started my MA and my professor kept on pushing me. When I was working on my project that went on to win the Portrait of Britain, he said he saw the project going global.
“I didn't really believe him then, but today, my winning image has been celebrated in Britain; I've been nominated for Portrait of Britain, and the Royal Photographic Society. It’s been published in different places and has been viewed by millions of people."
When asked what advice he’d give to a photographer starting out, Aderopo says, “The most important thing is to understand why you started. There are days I've questioned my creativity and there are days I don’t feel good enough. But for every single time those thoughts come by, I try to understand: why did I start?
“I would always tell people, do not stop. Don't stop, regardless of the hustle, regardless of the obstacle. Do not stop. You should work on your projects, create new ideas, and one day, you are going to be at the top.”
To see more of Aderopo's work, visit his website and his Instagram.
