Last Updated on 02/12/2025 by Nilofer Khan
Returning to the place where you once grew up can be a profound adventure. The time and distance away from your community, its cultures, and traditions can lead you to experience and appreciate the intricate details you once dismissed. For some, the trip back home can be nostalgic; for others, it can result in an awakening; and then, some use the journey as a means to heal and reconnect with their past. When Nigerian-British photographer and filmmaker Emily Nkanga visited her hometown after a brief period, she began to work on a project that spanned over two years. Now, poetic photographs are being published in a new photo book. Here’s a glimpse into how the publication weaves many intricate themes into one cohesive, emotional narrative.
All photographs are by Emily Nkanga, courtesy of the artists and GÒKÈ. Used with permission.
The photo book, titled Unyọñ Ufọk, invites readers into the intimate world of Nkanga’s native town, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria. The idea for the publication sparked shortly after the multidisciplinary artist’s father’s burial in 2021. This period, which the book’s title reflects on, is a personal reflection on grief and a wide-ranging portrait of a region in transition.
Unyọñ Ufọk, which translates to “going home,” showcases the transient moments of everyday life in Akwa Ibom. Carrying two analog cameras—the Mamiya RZ 67 and the Olympus OM2—Nkanga set out to chronicle the region’s cultural richness and dynamics in her quiet but serene photographs. The pictures made during her long journey have been divided into three parts and show various aspects of local life, including governance, community heroes, and cultural practices.
What you see in the photo book includes members of traditional music groups like the Ikemesit and Starlight Cultural Groups and the Akwa Ibom’s state boxing team. Through the images of the musicians using traditional instruments, Emily Nkanga displays the spiritual significance of music in Ibibio society. The pictures of bamboo block ntakrok and metal gong akankang all showcase her connection with her cultural heritage and her background working with major music labels like Sony and Universal.
Similarly, the youth boxing team, which has been emphasized in Unyọñ Ufọk, showcases the discipline and teamwork of the people. Through the portraits of the coaches and the team, Nkanga builds on her existing documentary Reaching for Gold, which follows two female boxers, Dorcas Onoja and Idara Udoette, in their pursuit of excellence. But when you put the music and boxing groups together, you see what makes Akwa Ibom so special: the burning passion for growth and life.
While we see immense dedication on the one hand, we are confronted with grief on the other. The third chapter of Unyọñ Ufọk explores the Nigerian tradition of mourning through portraits of individuals wearing commemorative clothing embellished with her father’s image. This clothing is not only limited to mourning but also worn on celebrations, showcasing the significance and respect for shared memories with the deceased. The images also depict how Nkanga’s father, a patriarch, was a cherished individual of the community and how his passing was marked by respect from local politicians, royalty, and many more groups in the region. The photo book, thus, highlights how cultural traditions often bind us in birth and death, in happiness and sorrow.
Overall, the book reveals the complexities of identity and belonging while showcasing how one’s time away can lead one to be curious and appreciative of one’s homeland’s evolution. At the same time, she raises important questions about “home” and how the connections that we have formed with the land and its people continue to shape us. There is also the examination of legacy, loss, and the transformative power of art, as Nkanga uses a photographer to channel her grief and heal. As she once said, “It gives a bit of closure, especially for someone who really loved my work. I feel like if he saw these pictures, he would be happy.”
To purchase the photo book, head here.