Documentary
THE STORY
BEFORE THE PARADE
Drawn by the vibrant colours, elaborate regalia and cultural expressions captured in photographs of previous editions, I set out to experience and document the Fanti Carnival in 2026. But beyond the spectacle that had first caught my attention, I wanted to understand the celebration more fully: what happens before the parades, how people prepare, and what the carnival looks like away from the moments everyone gathers to witness.
This personal project follows the carnival beyond its most visible expressions. From the preparations leading up to the celebrations to the parades themselves, I sought to document the people, details and in-between moments that help tell a more complete story of the experience.
My approach was to move between observation and deliberate portraiture, allowing room for both the rawness of unguarded moments and the visual possibilities of more considered, editorial-style photographs. I was interested in seeing people not only as performers dressed for the occasion, but also as individuals before the regalia, in the pauses, preparations and interactions that exist alongside the public spectacle.
Rather than focusing solely on what makes the carnival visually striking, Before the Parade is an attempt to look closer; and to find the quieter details, the human presence and the moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. It is a personal exploration of a cultural celebration, told through the spectacle itself and the life that unfolds around it.
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Year: 2026
THE STORY
BEHIND THE MEDICINE
The fight against malaria extends beyond research and the development of medicines. It also depends on the facilities, expertise and processes required to manufacture and deliver treatments. In 2024, I was commissioned by Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) to document the SWIPHA pharmaceutical facility in Dopemu, Lagos, Nigeria, as part of a visual archive of MMV’s investments in the fight against malaria.
With SWIPHA among the beneficiaries of MMV’s grants and investments, the project offers a closer look at the work taking place behind pharmaceutical production. From the processes involved in manufacturing antimalarial medicines to quality checks, packaging and the activities that precede the finished product, the photographs document the infrastructure and operations that form part of this wider public-health effort.
Beyond the machinery and production lines, the work also draws attention to the people behind the process. Their activities, working environments and attention to detail reveal a side of the fight against malaria that often remains outside public view.
By documenting these largely unseen stages of production, the project creates a visual record of the work taking place within SWIPHA and the industrial processes connected to MMV’s broader mission. It is a story about investment, pharmaceutical production and the people whose work contributes to the effort to make antimalarial medicines available to those who need them.
Client: Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV)
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Year: 2024
