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David Chijindu Iloba

@thechijzy

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Telling African stories on climate, culture & identity.
Available for commissions & collaborations
Member APJD
📍Lagos, Nigeria 🇳🇬

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Freebird…FreeGuy.. by @thechijzy

Sir It’s FAKE LIFE oooo by @thechijzy

Yoooo the world is 😍 Beautiful… by @thechijzy

Just live it…#photography by @thechijzy

Textures of Osun pt.2

📍Osun, 2026

#wabisabistyle #texture #beads #shell #art by @thechijzy

Defamiliarization by @tellthatstory_ made me look twice at Osun Osogbo this year.

Everyone comes for the drums, the white-clad devotees, the long procession to the river, the trance of it all. I came for that too. But somewhere in the second hour, I stopped chasing the big moments and started looking down, sideways, at the small things nobody photographs.

While the crowd moved as one loud, colorful body, I found myself drawn to what gets lost inside it. The textures. The details that don’t shout for attention and wait for you to slow down enough to notice them.

That’s the thing about defamiliarization. It doesn’t ask you to see something new. It asks you to see something old like it’s new. I’ve walked past this festival’s textures on my last trip and never really looked at them until I decided to look differently.

This year, Osogbo didn’t just give me a festival.
It gave me a texture study I’m still processing.

📍Osun state, 2026
#osún #iseselagba #osunstate #fujifilm by @thechijzy

Spotlight #8: David Iloba @thechijzy

David Iloba is a Lagos-based documentary photographer who connects with people to understand their culture. His work is built on trust, curiosity, and genuine human moments. Through his photographs, he documents everyday life, tradition, and the connections that bring people together, helping others see different cultures with understanding, respect, and appreciation.

#storyhunters #osunosogbo #photographyexhibition #documentaryphotography by @thechijzy

Returning to Osun feels special.

I’m honoured to be exhibiting at the 2026 Osogbo FotoFest 1.0, a thoughtfully curated platform that celebrates the power of photography and visual storytelling.

My first visit to Osun was unforgettable. It gave me the opportunity to create images that remain some of my favourites, while connecting with an inspiring community of creatives whose passion and generosity left a lasting impression.

A heartfelt thank you to the incredible team at @storyhuntersng for creating and nurturing a space where visual storytellers can learn, connect, and thrive.

Special appreciation to Prof. Akintunde @dr.a.k.i.n.t.u.n.d.e for his vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to growing photography and documentary storytelling in Nigeria.

I’m grateful to be back, and I look forward to sharing this journey through my work.

See you in Osogbo, this time with @fujifilmnigeria by @thechijzy

One day we’ll sit down and talk about the evolving tenancy Laws of lagos state.

📍Costain, Lagos

#light #fujifilm #x100vfujifilm by @thechijzy

Shaping light…with @combingthestreets

The streets teach you that light means nothing without shadow. Every face, every movement, every quiet moment becomes visible because of the contrast.

📍Lagos, Nigeria 2026

#streetphotography #fujixseries
#fujifilmnigeria
#fujifilm_xseries #light by @thechijzy

BLACK FRIDAY🤦🏿

Yesterday morning was Black Friday in Somolu, Lagos. When fire tore through one of the buildings in my community. Properties went up in flames, people were suddenly rendered homeless, and neighbours stood together trying to salvage whatever they could from the ruins. The air was thick with smoke, confusion, and shock. It was happening right in front of us.

If you were there, you would witness the fear, the urgency, and the quiet strength of people trying to hold on to what was left. It’s been rumoured that an electrical fault may have caused the fire, a reminder of how quickly things can change.

Then the Lagos State Firefighters arrived. They fought the fire tirelessly and helped save what remained of the residents’ properties. In the middle of loss, their effort mattered deeply to everyone present.

My thoughts are with the families affected. I hope they find strength, support, and comfort in this moment. by @thechijzy

This one took me back…

Sack race. Egg and spoon. Fill the bottle. Basket and ball. Those interhouse sports we all played under the hot sun, screaming for our houses like our lives depended on it 😂

This year I’ve learnt to really involve myself in the stories around me, taking a pause on the beautiful things I might have been overlooking while chasing the big stories. It’s a personal call to pay attention, to document the quiet corners, the everyday magic, the things that matter no matter how small.

This is me drawing closer to my community, finding joy in my craft with my people. These moments are shaping how I see, sharpening my eyes to the quiet stories that make up our community.

This is how I want to photograph my world this year.

#streetphotographersfdn #streetphotography #streetphoto #fujifilmx100vshooters #fujifilm by @thechijzy