At 80, Cornelius Oyemade is perhaps Nigeria’s oldest practiseing photographer in the country. In the 1960s and 1970s, he and the late Peter Obe aka Exclusive traversed the social scene, capturing some of the historical moments in still images. From highflying weddings, birthdays and funerals to major sporting events in and outside the country, Oyemade’s signature remains indelible. He speaks with Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME on why he dumped his job with Shell Petroleum Development Company for photography, his memorable moments and his regrets, among other issues.
In the last four decades, Pa Cornelius Oyemade has been a regular face at most major international and local sporting events. As a seasoned and well-travelled photographer, he clicked his way into the hearts of many Lagos socialites, who still seek after him till date.
His love for photography is incredible as he found time to take photographs even on his 80th birthday penultimate Saturday. He was spotted working at the dedication of Baby Ruth Isemede. Ruth, is the miracle child of 55-year-old Mrs Oluwatyin Isemede (nee Akindele), wife of the just retired Vicar of Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, (TBS) Lagos, Venerable S. Igien Isemede.
As a little child, Oyemade used to steal his mother’s money each time he was left in charge of her shop. From those savings, he was able to buy four cameras, which were seized by his parents. It took the intervention of his Principal at the Baptist Academy, Lagos, Mr. Adegbite to get the cameras back for him.
The veteran photographer, who was born on November 10 1938, trained as an apprentice photographer before he became a freelance contributor. Since the 1960s, his photographs of high society parties and sporting events have been published in leading newspapers and magazines.
Oyemade’s professional colleagues included Peter Obe, Akin Adedayo, Kayode Ibidapo (National Sports Commission), Lateef Olayinka and Tajudeen Sani.
According to him, turning 80 did not actually bring joy to his family. “I was not happy celebrating it because many of my children are abroad. When they come next year, I will celebrate it in a big way. Last Saturday, I turned 80. To me, it was not a big deal, but I thank God for sparing my life. I am the oldest practising photographer in Lagos,” he said with joy, noting that one of his children is into photography, and is with City People magazine as a freelance.
Stealing his mother’s
money to buy camera as a student
I developed interest in photography at an early age while at the Baptist Academy, Broad Street, Lagos. I used to steal my mother’s money to buy camera. And I saw the design of one of the cameras from Mr. Fashanu during school inter-house sports. I bought about four cameras, which my parents seized. One day, my parents came to school to complain to my school principal, Mr. Adegbite. Instead of punishing me, my Principal pleaded to my parents to release the four cameras to me, saying photography might be my future career.
Interestingly, when Mr Adegbite’s daughter was going to wed, I was in Constantine in Algeria covering a football match between Abiola Babes Football Club and an Algerian team. On arriving Nigeria the second day, Adegbite commissioned me as the official photographer for the daughter’s wedding the following weekend. I am a football fan as well as freelance photographer covering sports. Unfortunately, Abiola Babes lost the match and Chief M.K.O Abiola told the players that you cannot win all the time.
Inspiration
I developed interest in photography from childhood. After leaving Baptist Academy, Lagos I trained at Island Photography Centre, Lagos before going to London Film School, where I learnt about press photography. I also went to Nikon School, London. I had wanted to do advance study in photography in London, but lack of funds prevented me.
Some Nigerian press photographers do not always capture action photos such as moments when goals are scored because they don’t have the materials and camera that can arrest such action. They always rely on AFP photographs.
The failure of our generation is that photographers simply bought camera with a lens, not minding the appropriate lens for its usage.
Career as a freelance photographer
I was a freelance photographer with Daily Times during the days of the late Chief Babatunde Jose in the 70s. Unfortunately, I could not cope with the photographers in-house. Some were not well trained and unable to caption photographs. I knew few that were house boys to Peter Obe who later became photographers. Some could take good photographs, but could not caption them because they were not literate enough. I covered the English Premier League matches in UK, Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and Nigerian football matches.
On my return from UK, I worked briefly with Shell Petroleum for one year. I could not stay long at Shell because they don’t allow photographers to freelance with newspapers. More importantly, the job at Shell was not engaging enough. At Shell, photographers’ job was mainly printing passport photos, which did not give me joy and fulfilment. I had to pull out.
Lessons from the beat
At the Los Angeles Olympic Games, USA in 1984, I almost became a spectator until Dr. Adetokunbo Ademola bought me a modern hi-tech camera of about 280mm because my old camera was inadequate for the coverage of the games. He told me I should keep the old camera for covering chieftaincy title events at the Iga Iduganran of Oba Adeyinka Oyekan in Lagos.
When I was working with the Nigerian High Commission in London, I did cover most football matches on Saturdays. But, I was mocked one day when I wore Buba and Sokoto to cover a football match. The white fans were describing my dress as nice pyjamas. Since that day, I stopped wearing native dress.
I learnt a lot from covering international sporting events. In fact, there was also a photographer at the Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, a technical adviser, who hired helicopter to capture the aerial view of the opening ceremony of the games,which he turned into post cards and souvenirs for tourists.
Social photo as alternative
If I go to weddings, I look out for fashion shots, which I give to the Lagos Weekend newspaper. Till now, I still engage in social photography. These days, I feel like going to Lekki for coverage, but no strength to do so. So, I select events to cover. Sometime, I cover a wedding ceremony at church, but won’t go to reception because I don’t have the strength.
Adjusting to digital
The days of analogue photography were costly in terms of money and time. Today, digital has overcome all of this in minutes because it is instantaneous. In fact, it is very economical. Unlike now, stadium such as Wimbledon in London has a dark room for processing of film.
If I had not gone into photography, I would have gone into physical education. I did play some football while in school. These days, photography has been simplified by the use of handsets (telephones), and users pose as mushroom photographers. But, I am very fulfilled and happy. Photography took me to places where I met great men and women from across the globe.
Memorable moments
One of my memorable moments as a freelance photographer was at the Edinburg Games in Scotland, where I was the only black photographer that covered the games. I met the likes of Joseph Gomwalk, Brigadier Femi Ogundipe, and Nigeria’s High Commissioner in London among others. Also, during a party on July 17, 1975, I met the Duke of Edinburg at the Buckingham Palace. That was the last time I put on tie. I went to 10 Downing Street, London in company with Brig. Ogundipe to meet with Prime Minister of UK, Sir Edward Heah. As an amateur, I have met Kwame Nkrumah, Kofi Busia and others.
Another memorable moment was when I climbed a tree in order to capture Ogboni Fraternity members’ rites during the burial of Ademola Adetokunbo at the Ikoyi Cemetery, Lagos. Unfortunately for me, that day, the clicking of my camera drew their attention and I was spotted. I was arrested but released later. The Ademola family, however, gave me some money for recording that aspect of the funeral, which was closed to the public.