Hafizat Adegbile’s journey into the world of art began with a simple gift—a camera from her father at the age of 15. Her father owned a photography studio, and her mum painted so venturing into creating wasn’t alien to Hafizat. She would use her camera to romanticize even the most mundane events in everyday life. Over the years, she sharpened her abilities and her eye for frames and composition as well– developing a unique style that represents, and captures her worldview to the general public.

To further her education, Hafizat pursued a Computer Science degree at the University of Ibadan. Despite the fixation on the 1’s and 0’s that come with such a field, she still weilded this opportunity to her advantage by expanding her knowledge on visual editing applications. She would use these tools to curate emotions that matches the ideas in her head. ”If a photo I took is not totally expressing what I wanted it to express, I take it to my computer and modify it to tell the story I want it to tell.”

One of Hafizat’s most defining moments was a piece called “Down with the Military”, captured during a peaceful protest in London against military rule and oppression in Sudan. It is a bleak work of art that oozes suppression in an industrialized world. The clouds are heavy, coinciding with the tone of the photo that speaks struggle. Almost like a metaphor for being in the thick of chaos with no end in sight, if at all. This work was chosen for exhibition at Holy Art in Berlin, Germany.

Hafizat Adegbile

Hafizat Adegbile’s art leverages heavily on the use of contrast, darkness. There is a brood hanging over her portraits, she plays with light to build intrigue around the subjects. A lady turns into  mystery, and a peaceful march during a cloudy afternoon becomes a representation of a world that is short on hope.  “I love to get people’s attention with my works. I am passing a message through them, and I feel the more striking they are, the more attention they get.” Hafizat said. Beyond images, she captures the very soul of moments, each photo being a brushstroke that contributes to a larger overarching theme.

For Hafizat, photography is more than a craft; it’s a means to freeze once-in-a-lifetime moments in their raw authenticity. Hafizat’s work serves as a conduit for messages, urging viewers to find beauty and hope in dark places. It breeds a hint of succor under overwhelming circumstances. Almost saying “Your struggles, no matter how heavy, do not define you.” 

In Hafizat’s artistic realm, politics and culture dance together. Believing in the parallels between these two facets of society, the work becomes a seamless blend, inviting contemplation on the interconnectedness of political narratives and cultural expressions.

When she is not taking pictures, she is painting and designing through digital tools. Infusing culture and traditional mythology into her works. Hafizat is a strong believer of artistic purity in her approach to work, laying emphasis on creativity over financial gain.  “I believe artists should just create and not worry about the money in the beginning. When you are about creativity and not profit, you tend to create works that challenge the norm and that is what the art world needs for constant evolution.” She says.

Hafizat Adegbile

With a keen eye on the intersection of art and history, Hafizat aspires to bring real-life situations to the forefront. The art becomes a testimony to the times, shaping narratives and evolving in delivery. Hafizat looks to extend her foray into digital arts, trying out image manipulation, the collection will depict diverse societal issues, ranging from politics to culture—from the lens of an African in the diaspora. 

Hafizat Adegbile, 39 continues to pour out her soul to the world through the power of her lenses. She makes a story of every individual gracious enough to stand in front of her camera, and believes it is a God given duty to tell it.

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