The Things We Carry

The Things We Carry

The Things We Carry is an ongoing body of work where I explore African cultural identity through dress, symbolism, and photography. Growing up, I understood that traditional clothing was never just clothing. Across many African cultures, garments carry meaning, they communicate status, belonging, spirituality, masculinity, memory, and responsibility. They tell stories long before anyone speaks. With this project, I wanted to reimagine those traditional forms through a contemporary visual language by placing globally recognized luxury logos like Nike, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and others onto culturally significant African garments. My intention is not to imitate luxury fashion, but to ask a deeper question: what happens when traditional African attire is viewed through the same lens of prestige and desire as global luxury brands? For me, the logos are not the subject, they are a tool. They allow me to create a dialogue between two systems of symbolism: one rooted in African heritage, the other in modern global consumer culture. The first series begins in Nigeria. I used the Abeti Aja, designed with Nike, to explore brotherhood. I photographed two men outdoors, using their physical closeness and shared presence to speak about kinship, companionship, and collective identity. For the Fila Gobi, designed with Louis Vuitton on Adire, I focused on the symbolism of the hunter and protector. The portrait shows two men standing beside a doorway holding a long stick, a gesture that speaks to vigilance, masculinity, and guardianship. With the Okpu Ozo, reimagined through Chanel, I explored Igbo ideas of brotherhood and communal support. The images show men leaning on and holding one another, a familiar gesture that reflects solidarity, trust, and responsibility toward one another. As this body of work continues, I intend to expand beyond Nigeria and explore traditional garments and symbols across Africa. My interest is in what these objects carry not only physically, but emotionally and historically. Through this series, I am celebrating African craftsmanship, cultural identity, and the visual languages that have always existed within our traditions.