In Focus With Sultan Dada

Sultan Dada is a photographer based in Ibadan. He captures beauty in imperfection, using photography and editing tools like Lightroom for inspiration and practice. Sultan describes his creative work as relatable, encouraging viewers to recognize shared struggles while celebrating life’s beauty.

How did You get Started?

I started photography as a casual skill; I just followed some of my friends like that. I followed him out taking pictures, and it's somebody that likes sharing knowledge. So if I ask him a question, he always begins to answer next. You explain a lot, even sometimes when I don't ask him; you just call me and be like, “Look at that. Look at the lighting, look at the camera. " And from there, he just told me, "You can try some. You can try your phone.” I first started using my phone. I started with mobile phone encouragement.

What is the Process like? What's the Common Theme in them?

My pictures are sometimes conceptual, and sometimes they're just for aesthetics. Though, most of the time the pictures I take tell the story of maybe, like, a person, and I relate to the environment and the application of little things. I see flowers and they can just look beautiful. Then I take it something like that, like since people may overlook beauty, or maybe good things, wabi-sabi. Something like that, like the beauty of imperfection, just appreciation of it, and stuff like that.

Are You Inspired by Other People's Work that You Add to Yours?

I use Lightroom, and in short, sometimes I've gotten inspiration from a lot of photographers. So they are Omorogie Osakpolor, Kingsville, Sanjo Lawal and Theguywithcamera.

For Someone Looking at Your Page for the First Time. What do You Want them to Know About?

I want to make people be able to relate to some of the things that are there, like the particular post. I think the latest one , the person with a lot of pegs, that particular course, I just felt like each and every one of us has one or two problems we're facing, we're going through, but most of the time, we still come out. We still look beautiful, I know, and though we still have our issues that we're carrying, that does not stop us from living life.

I just go like, we should not just forget the fact that we're human beings. We have the right to live life and appreciate the little things, beautiful things that we have.

What's Your Goal for the Page? What's your Goal for Your Work?

I want more people to see and appreciate everything. I want more people to see, more engagement and more relationships. I want people to just comment and appreciate the works, and it does not matter if you know me or not, basically, as long as the work is in and people can relate to it and they like it, I'm good. That's the goal for it.

What Challenges do You Face?

Sometimes resources. Nigerian way of being contentious and stuff like that. Something within your back, adjust living life.

What's Your Opinion on the Creative Space in Africa or in Nigeria?

Well, so far, so good. The world I've seen is going well. It will be something big. I've seen a lot of photographers from India that are known internationally. Like, there's one guy, Abuya, who I think has seen a lot of work abroad. I believe he has done exhibitions in India, but I've seen a lot of Nigerian photographers, and I've seen a lot of photography movements in Nigeria.


I attended the seminar last year, and it has really touched me. I have seen a lot of initiatives in Lagos. If they can actually keep this up I'm sure it can be something bigger.

I also call out to those who practice photography. We need more.

I think that they should try to push them to push more boundaries, like making photography more recognized. Make people know that you can tell more stories through photography, because I think a lot of people don't even know, even at in general people, it's only through law, being a doctor and stuff like that. Nobody wants to like see heart for exactly what it is. More people,

So what Advice would You give to Someone who is Starting Out as a Photographer?

I've had more times I really want to give up. Want to give up most of the time. I can just be like, I don't want to take pictures again. Then I'll just open my account. Then I'll see one like, then basically that one like will actually be the one that's just right again. Then I'll just pick up the camera again. Everybody should just keep doing their thing.


Don't give yourself a reason why you should think this is not your way. You feel like that is what you want to do. You just keep doing it. And definitely, and with God, nothing is impossible.