Judges
COTM | BTG SHORTLIST 2025
EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHER AWARD
Taofeek Oyewole Lawal
Guardians of Gaia: The unseen Eco-Warriors
Born on December 8, 1998, in Lagos, Nigeria, Oyewole Lawal is a photographer, visual artist, and storyteller with a deep passion for capturing the essence of life through his lens. His journey into the world of photography began in late 2020, starting with just a smartphone before transitioning to a DSLR camera in late 2021.
With a background in sociology from the University of Lagos, Oyewole's artistic vision is deeply influenced by sociological theories such as functionalism and Marxism. He uses his photography as a tool with interest to critique and explore social issues, aiming to document the complexities of human experience and the evolving dynamics between individuals and their environments. The power of images in shaping perceptions, influencing societal norms, and documenting the human experience through his lens is crucial in explaining social change, development and sociological theories. By using photography as a tool to explore and critique social issues, Lawal brings attention to marginalised voices, challenges stereotypes, and sparks meaningful conversations about the complexities of human interaction and societal structures. Through his work, he contributes to a greater understanding of the world and inspires positive change in society. Currently, Lawal is working on an environmental and social story in Ghana with his present work titled Guardian of Gaia in Nigeria. This is an ongoing project he dreams would lead the conversation about waste management and bring about positive change as he continues to explore West Africa.
Oyewole's career has been marked by numerous accolades, including the prestigious 2023 W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund Student Grant and the 2024 Emerging Lens Fellowship grant. He has participated in residencies such as the Storymi Academy, where he studied storytelling, and the Artwork Project in Chicago. His work has been featured in renowned publications like AP Magazine UK, MotherJones USA, and The Republic, Nigeria. He has exhibited in esteemed venues such as the Lagos Photo Festival and the Alliançe Français Lagos, COP28 Virtual Exhibition.
Guardians of Gaia: The unseen Eco-Warriors
Guardians of Gaia The Unseen Eco-Warriors is a photojournalists project I began in 2023, documenting waste miners in Olusosun Landfill, Lagos and Kinshasa Beach, Jamestown, Accra— two distinct frontline communities with the unsung heroes tackling the waste crisis. In Lagos, Nigeria, over 12,000 miners at Olusosun landfill recover 20-30% of recyclables from 10,000 tons of daily waste. In Accra, Ghana, miners salvage 15-20% of waste along pollution along the Gulf of Guinea. With Africa’s annual waste projected to rise from 125M to 400M tonnes of by 2050, and 11M tonnes entering oceans globally each year, their role is vital. These visuals humanize their labor and expose the environmental cost of urban growth, poor policy, and global consumerism. This project hope to challenge stigma, drives awareness, and honor grassroots climate actions and trigger conversation around consumption rate and waste mismanagement. Collaboration with waste miners to encourage them to share their story.
