Manuel Michael
(Nigeria)Aleni Emmanuel (professionally known as Manuel Michael) is a self-taught fashion and editorial photographer based in Abuja, Nigeria. He began his photography journey in 2018, driven by a deep interest in fashion and clothing design. Over the years, He has refined his craft, developing a style that captures fashion with authenticity, depth, and artistic expression. For him, photography is more than an art form, it is a reflection of his inner world and a bridge that connects me to a global audience. Music plays a vital role in his creative process, feeling his imagination and helping him visualize concepts. He also draws inspiration from his environment; every building, object, tree, or pattern holds the potential to spark a new idea. Through this journey, He continues to merge his love for fashion and photography, creating images that tell stories, explore identity, and resonate with emotion.
OUR CROWN (The Shape of Us)
Our Crown (The Shape of Us) is a photography project exploring Nigerian men’s hairstyles as expressions of identity, resilience, and pride. Through still photography, it captures the intimate world of salons and barbershops alongside refined fashion portraits, revealing the artistry, culture, and individuality behind each style. In Nigeria, hair often carries meaning beyond aesthetics, reflecting heritage, beliefs, and confidence in a society that sometimes misunderstands natural Black hair. The project is personal to him, shaped by experiences of both pride and prejudice. His goal is to document these hairstyles with honesty, reframing them not as stereotypes but as powerful statements of identity.
