WAITING FOR MARRIAGE II
by Nnebuifé Kwubeï
Lagos, Nigeria, 2023
The woman waits, primed and groomed, ready for when a man comes to confer dignity. This is a staged photograph of what many know as reality. This is what it means to wait for marriage as a woman. The model is dressed in Iro and Buba (traditional attire that is no longer commonly worn) to showcase her conservatism, which some men find attractive. She holds out a bunch of plantains which represents her value in marriage. The man often comes empty-handed. This artwork is part of a larger project that examines the hypocrisy and double standards that are prevalent when it comes to women’s sexual autonomy and expectations compared to men’s.
Nnebuife Kwubéi is a writer and photographer based in Lagos, Nigeria.