These dreamlike photos shine a light on Nigerian culture

Apah Benson was first drawn to photography in late 2018, right after graduating university, a transitional period where he found himself living inside “multiple realities”. Already a choreographer, actor, and poet, he says: “I felt a burning need to capture life compositionally and aesthetically, beyond just text... Photography naturally followed, offering a way to transform personal and collective experiences into lasting visual forms.”

The images that Benson has created in the years since are stark, arresting, and dreamlike. In one photo, a male nude is set against pure white sand; in another, a woman’s face is shown in profile, hooded in white fur, against an ethereal ocean backdrop. There’s a sense that many stories – and, yes, multiple realities – lie beneath the surface of the people and places that he chooses to portray.

Benson confirms that there’s truth behind this feeling. Spanning documentary, fashion, and fine art, his photos address a diverse collection of themes, from climate change and socio-economic issues, to heritage and spirituality. “Recently [I’ve been] investigating the roots of my identity, and the stories of the cultures and traditions I grew up with, and how they have been influenced by colonial impacts,” he explains. “This includes the post-colonial transfiguration that has remained in our DNA, culture, fashion, and more.”

Hailing from Delta State, Nigeria, the photographer notes that the country’s geography and culture is deeply embedded in his work. “There’s a term we use here a lot, ‘son of the soil’, meaning born of a place and rooted there,” he says. “This is to say that we are all shaped by our experiences and roots – even as we strive to transcend any of their limitations, we are also called to let the best parts of that heritage shine. Nigeria, with its resilient people, vibrant colors, rich stories, and profound culture, profoundly influences my perspective and my art.”

On a personal level, Benson says that all of his work – from sleek fashion photos, to intimate, divine images lifted from his dreams – is inspired by Nigerian music, food, and the Nollywood VHS tapes he grew up watching with his dad and his sisters. “Everything about being Nigerian shapes my creative lens.” And in the future, he says, he aims to turn this lens back on the past, to document (and help shape) history itself.

Take a look at the gallery above for a closer look.