By Adefoyeke Ajao

On February 2nd, 2018, “Stages/Scènes” an exhibition of images taken by Ghanaian photographer Selorm Jay, opened at the Alliance Française Yaba in Lagos. The collection of 19 pictures shot by the artist at various hip-hop concerts from across the globe, “captures the unexpected moments’ artists share on stage”.

Efya (Singer)

Selorm Jay boasts of building “a strong relationship with artists in urban culture, based in
Accra,” but his work is an all-inclusive treatise that features images of pop culture icons resident outside Accra, including The Wu-Tang Clan, Seun Kuti, Show Dem Camp, Falz and Simi. For this series, Selorm Jay, who describes himself as “a freelance, self-taught photographer, filmmaker and producer” captures these artists while they are deep in performance mode. Such intense moments hold his fascination because, “some of such moments could be what seems like a trance as if the artists are getting into a different energy zone, a moment of blissful happiness, pain and passion”.

For him, this series is a means of recording the hip-hop culture in Africa, a cause he passionately endorses in his role as creative director at Yoyo Tinz – an outfit that generates conversation around the hip-hop culture in Africa and also documents, promotes, and archives the genre.

If you’re wondering why he uses photography to document euphoric moments, the shutterbug explains that he “was naturally drawn to photography and fuelled to create photos and films [and tries] to always make the most of [his] environment and find the beauty in it”.

Selorm Jay’s “Stages/Scènes” is at Alliance Française, Yaba until 24th February 2018

Images are courtesy of Selorm Jay.