Photography
Andrew Esiebo
Curator
Annalisa Butticci
Na God is an expression in West African Pidgin English. It means “It Is God” and is usually used when people are blessed with miracles, healing, deliverance, wealth and succes in life. Na God! God did it!
Na God is a travelling photographic exhibition and explores some of the most important features of Nigerian and Ghanaian Pentecostalism. The photographer, Andrew Esiebo, narrates the manifestation of this vibrant expression of contemporary global Christianity from African points of origin to missionary destinations in Italy, illuminating the creative circulation of sensorial regimes and religious aesthetics between Nigeria, Ghana and Italy.
The pictures capture the emotional power of ecstatic moments of prayer, adoration, and deliverance from evil forces as well the celebration of diasporic African identities, memory and community. With a deep and intimate gaze, Andrew Esiebo shows religious emotions, liturgical objects, sacred spaces, altars, and Sunday styles of dressing highlighting the sensational and spectacular aesthetics of Nigerian and Ghanaian Pentecostalism and its charismatic power.
A n d r e w E s i e b o is an award winning photographer / artist who started out in photography by chronicling the rapid development of urban Nigeria as well as the country’s rich culture and heritage. Over the last three years, he has been extensively working on Nigerian religions and spirituality, visually exploring the growing Charismatic and Pentecostal movements, their massive gatherings, prayer styles, use of spaces, and sacred objects. His works have been exhibited worldwide such as at the Photo Quai biennial in Paris, France, South London Gallery, London, UK, Location One Gallery, New York, USA, Goethe Institute, Lagos, Nigeria, Sao Paulo biennial, the Guangzhou Triennial in Beijing, the Chobi Mela V Photo Festival in Bangladesh, the Noorderlitch Photo Festival in Netherlands, African Photography Encounters in Mali and the Lagos Photo Festival among others. His images have featured in international publications, books, magazines and websites. Andrew Esiebo’s website
