Attestation

“Attestation” reflects on the legacy of the #EndSARS movement that began in 2020 as a response to years of political corruption, human rights violations, and brutality by the Nigerian police, particularly the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Determined to reform the policing system, young Nigerians organized a series of peaceful nationwide protests to demand change.

Although the movement grew out of hope, it tragically descended into violence and repression as security forces, particularly the police, used live ammunition and tear gas against protesters, resulting in at least 56 deaths, including 12 on October 20, 2020.

In an attempt to symbolize the course of time, Nigeria photographer Fawaz Oyedeji visited public spaces of these pivotal moments of resistance and juxtaposed them with present-day Lagos. This temporal comparison showcases the various stages of struggles and adaptation that have occurred over time. The images, maintaining the original perspectives, serve as a historical record. They chart the physical and symbolic shifts in the urban fabric and reflect the enduring struggle for justice and a better quality of life in Nigeria.

Fawaz Oyedeji

Fawaz Oyedeji is a documentary photographer, photojournalist, and historian from Nigeria whose work centers on exploring political expression in Africa. His work examines how people interact with power, understanding it not just as a repressive force but as one that operates actively within various levels of social structures, such as political authority, social class, institutions, and events.

He holds a diploma in Mass Communication from Yaba College of Technology and studied History Education at the University of Lagos. In 2023, he graduated from the Market Photo Workshop in South Africa, further refining his photojournalism and documentary practice.

Fawaz’s work, which covers themes such as the rise of private security companies, the role of political posters during elections, protests against police violence, and the lives of student cadets, has been published in The Financial Times and Les Echos and exhibited globally, earning him grants, awards, and commissions from prestigious organizations such as the W. Eugene Smith Fund, Prince Claus Fund, Christian Dior Parfums, Daniele Tamagni Foundation, UN WFP, Architectural Review, Magnum Photos, and Agence France-Presse (AFP).