{"id":2514,"date":"2026-06-11T21:38:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T21:38:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fattehmagazine.com\/?p=2514"},"modified":"2026-06-12T10:43:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T10:43:00","slug":"meet-the-queer-photographer-making-waves-in-nigeria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fattehmagazine.com\/am\/meet-the-queer-photographer-making-waves-in-nigeria\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Queer Photographer Making Waves in Nigeria"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Portrait of Alexandra Obochi, a queer, plus-size Nigerian photographer whose work centres LGBTQ+ people, particularly women and nonbinary people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Her striking images have appeared in fashion magazines like Vogue, but Alexandra Obochi says bringing LGBTQ+ Nigerians into focus is part of a much broader effort to \u2018confront the patriarchy\u2019 through art.<\/em><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

by Daniel Anthony<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living openly as a queer person in Nigeria means learning all too quickly how visibility shapes the way you navigate the world. For creatives channelling their identity through their work, that often means treading carefully through hostile terrain without letting fear define them. Photographer Alexandra Obochi knows what it feels like to walk that fine line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 27, Obochi has already made waves for her arresting imagery. Appearing in international magazines like Vogue<\/em><\/a> and Dazed<\/em><\/a> as well as local titles such as The Native<\/em><\/a>, her stylised photos spotlight the bodies and identities pushed to the margins of Nigerian society, including LGBTQ people. A tenderness and confidence run through much of her work, shaping explorations of femininity, softness and queerness in ways that feel both intimate and nuanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether in magazine pages or on her own platforms, Obochi has never hidden her identity as a queer woman. Indeed, she has often foregrounded it. \u201cBecause I\u2019m queer, I\u2019m not bound by heteronormativity and the ideals of patriarchy,\u201d says the self-taught photographer who lives and works in Abuja. \u201cThis allows me to explore the world and my work through different perspectives. My queerness doesn\u2019t limit what I can do; I can expand in any direction I choose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s something kinetic about the way Obochi discusses creativity. Even in conversation, her thoughts seem to move faster than the sentences that express them. She laughs frequently, circles back to previous ideas, and speaks about the visual arts as if it\u2019s not just a profession but something that\u2019s almost inseparable from her sense of self.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven though it doesn\u2019t always work out, I keep coming back for more,\u201d she says with a chuckle, referring to the photo shoots and multidisciplinary events she creates around fashion, makeup and styling. \u201cThat\u2019s how I know I\u2019m a little crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alexandra Obochi\u2019s photography explores intimacy, identity, kinship and belonging with a deep interest in how tenderness exists in everyday life. Courtesy of Alexandra Obochi<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Living Boldly<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obochi is one of a small but increasingly visible group of Nigerians working in the creative industries who are openly LGBTQ. For admirers, the appeal of their work lies not only in its substance, but in the sense of possibility they represent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bolaji, a friend and fan of Obochi\u2019s photography, describes her as someone who lives life with striking openness despite the pressures of being out in Nigeria. \u201cWhen I look at Alexandra,\u201d he says, \u201cI see someone who is living boldly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obochi\u2019s visibility carries significance beyond the LGBTQ and plus-size communities. Bolaji describes her as \u201can embodiment of hope\u201d for others who face exclusion because of who they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides her eye-catching imagery and distinct perspective, what sets Obochi apart is her refusal to internalise any shame in a country that remains deeply hostile to LGBTQ people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have never hated or resented myself for being queer. I have learned to embrace that part of myself [even though] people are very judgmental and very bigoted when it comes to identity and expression,\u201d says Obochi. \u201cIt\u2019s a heavily traditional society, so anything that doesn\u2019t fit into the customs they\u2019re used to becomes opposed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the opposition facing sexual and gender minorities in Nigeria can extend beyond everyday experiences of social stigma and safety risks. It can also carry severe legal consequences.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A subject from Alexandra Obochi\u2019s \u2018Celebrating Queers\u2019 project in Nigeria where LGBTQ people are not only criminalised but silenced, marginalised and erased. Courtesy of Alexandra Obochi<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Consensual same-sex sexual activity in Nigeria is punishable by up to 14 years\u2019 imprisonment for both men and women under federal law. In some northern states applying religious Sharia law, punishments can range from flogging for gender non-conforming offences to the death penalty for certain same-sex acts. Since 2013, the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act has further tightened restrictions around LGBTQ organising, visibility and public expression in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In places where LGBTQ people are criminalised, being open about one\u2019s identity often requires careful and constant negotiation within families and social circles. Obochi experienced that first-hand when she was outed to her parents without her consent, forcing her to leave home briefly while tensions eased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing outed to my family was such an unpleasant ordeal that left me feeling violated,\u201d she says quietly. \u201cI was still basically a teenager, trying to figure out and embrace my sexuality when it happened. The outing disrupted that process completely, and I ended up leaving home for over a week.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Obochi, her parents eventually came to accept her sexuality after she returned home, but only on the condition that she remained discreet about it. Although she describes her relationship with her family as loving and supportive, she also understands that acceptance comes with boundaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even within Nigeria\u2019s creative communities, some of which are considered more welcoming to LGBTQ people than wider society, unwritten social codes around visibility continue to shape how openly people live and express themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Alexandra<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alexandra Obochi\u2019s creative journey began in makeup artistry and creative direction before evolving into photography and fashion-driven visual narratives. Courtesy of Alexandra Obochi<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obochi is also aware that her experience differs from that of other LGBTQ Nigerians.  \u201cI could easily pass as a straight woman,\u201d she observes. That relative invisibility, she suggests, has likely protected her from some of the harsher realities faced by more visibly gender non-conforming people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, instead of fading into that invisibility, she has increasingly chosen to highlight her identity in her work, using photography and other forms of creative expression to quietly challenge assumptions about queerness, femininity and selfhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obochi says she is also deeply conscious of how quickly visibility can become dangerous for others. \u201cI see how society treats effeminate men. People can be mean, cruel, and violent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This awareness, she notes, influences the emotional and political themes in her work. \u201cThat\u2019s why much of my work focuses on confronting patriarchy,\u201d she explains. \u201cI recognise what\u2019s happening around me, so I aim to use my art to challenge it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growing Into Difference<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obochi realised she was slightly unconventional long before she found photography.  Growing up between Abuja and boarding school, with regular visits to Nsukka in Enugu State, she recalls an intense curiosity about the world around her and a constant desire to make sense of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a child, I asked many questions because I was eager to learn,\u201d she reflects. \u201cI read extensively, sometimes four books in a day, often getting lost in romance novels.\u201d She laughs softly before adding, \u201cI\u2019ve lost that ability now though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the eldest of four siblings and the first daughter in an Igbo family \u2014 an ada<\/em>, as she describes herself \u2014 Obochi was raised with a sense of responsibility and confidence, largely shaped by a mother she regards as strong and highly influential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obochi speaks fondly of her childhood, highlighting a warmth that contrasts with the stories of rupture or alienation commonly associated with LGBTQ lives in Africa. She describes her upbringing as stable, loving and deeply rooted in family. So much so that she only moved out of her parents\u2019 home earlier this year, when she and her partner found a place of their own a short distance away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many LGBTQ people experience rejection, violence, estrangement or pressure to suppress their identities entirely, Obochi\u2019s relationship with her family has been shaped by a complex balance of support and compromise. That complexity, perhaps, also informs the way she sees queerness in Nigeria\u2019s socially conservative but gradually changing society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obochi says she did not spend much of her childhood consciously thinking about queerness. It was only later, at 19 and while at university, that she began to more fully understand her sexuality and what it meant in the Nigerian context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was raised in a society that teaches young girls to aspire to be wives to men and build a family with them. But deep down in me I knew I was different and that wasn\u2019t what I wanted with my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With time, that sense of difference evolved from something Obochi instinctively understood into something she learned to articulate in her own terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think the word queer, in its own way, means \u2018different\u2019. It means \u2018unique\u2019,\u201d says Obochi, although she is aware that the reclaimed term has not been universally embraced by the LGBTQ community. \u201cFor me, it signifies that I move through the world differently from others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Through<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Through quiet gestures, shared spaces and moments of closeness, Alexandra Obochi documents relationships that resist spectacle but carry profound emotional and political weight. Courtesy of Alexandra Obochi<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding Belonging<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite sometimes facing negativity online \u2014 including criticism as a plus-size woman challenging narrow beauty standards in Nigeria\u2019s fashion and creative industries \u2014 Obochi insists it does not dictate her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe things that happen online don\u2019t really influence how I navigate the world emotionally,\u201d says Obochi, adding that she maintains quiet routines that help her feel grounded, whether at the gym or with friends. \u201cWhat matters most to me are the relationships and experiences I build in my real life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a society where being openly LGBTQ can carry multiple risks, Obochi approaches relationships carefully and intentionally. \u201cAlthough I\u2019m quite a friendly person, I believe that when it comes to making friends, you need to be very meticulous and cautious,\u201d she explains. \u201cYour friendships and acquaintances should feel safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cArt spaces tend to be much more open-minded,\u201d she adds. \u201cThere\u2019s room for expression, exploration, and for people to exist outside of rigid expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, many of Obochi\u2019s closest relationships grew out of creative spaces, shaped by collaboration, trust and a shared commitment to freedom of expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlexandra has a rare ability to make the personal feel universal,\u201d says Kayode, a creative director and longtime collaborator. \u201cHer vision stands out because it\u2019s honest, layered, and unafraid of subtlety. She is working towards a body of art bridging intimacy and impact \u2014 one that\u2019s unmistakably her own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others who have worked with Obochi point to the atmosphere she creates. Yolanda, a model who collaborated on one of her early shoots, recalls that \u201cshe had a specific vision and was very particular about it being realised exactly as she imagined [but] was genuinely kind [and] really allowed everyone to express themselves authentically.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Whether<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Whether capturing softness or strength, stillness or defiance, Alexandra Obochi\u2019s images challenge dominant narratives around gender, the body and belonging. Courtesy of Alexandra Obochi<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Framing the Future<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite her growing acclaim at home and abroad, Obochi remains focused on developing her craft. \u201cAt the moment, I\u2019m still telling the stories I\u2019ve always told,\u201d she says. \u201cBut I\u2019m concentrating on how to refine my voice, enhance my visuals, and grow as an artist.\u201d She seems keenly aware of the added weight this carries when the person behind the camera is part of the same community as her subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though she may bristle at the idea of being an inspiration, Obochi is a talent whose work resonates beyond her home country.  Much of that appeal lies in her ability to turn people on the fringes into the protagonists of a shared story while portraying them with a softness and strength that resists reductive narratives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When members of the LGBTQ community or plus-size women engage with her work, Obochi hopes they come away feeling less constricted by the expectations placed around them and more empowered to express themselves. It\u2019s one motivation for the photobook she\u2019s planning to release later this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to continue making as much impact as I can,\u201d she says, with a note of sincerity and steeliness that leaves little doubt she intends to do exactly that. \u201cKnowing that there are people out there who feel seen through my work means a lot to me. Especially those who aren\u2019t used to having that kind of representation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Alexandra Obochi, being an openly queer photographer is about much more than advancing LGBTQ visibility. It\u2019s about pushing creative boundaries in a way that makes room for anyone who has ever felt different to exist more freely in a society that often expects them to disappear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Alexandra<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alexandra Obochi seeks to build alternative archives that affirm the beauty, complexity and resilience of her community. Courtesy of Alexandra Obochi<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Her striking images have appeared in fashion magazines like Vogue, but Alexandra Obochi says bringing LGBTQ+ Nigerians into focus is part of a much broader effort to \u2018confront the patriarchy\u2019 through 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