Tijani Sitou, of Yoruban ethnicity and born in Nigeria, apprenticed with a Malian photographer in the eastern city of Gao. He eventually settled in Mopti, Mali, in 1971, opening Photo Kodak, where he ran a thriving business until the 1990s. The studio proved so successful that Sitou funded a 1978 journey to Mecca, earning him the title El Hadj.

1.El Hadj Tijani Àdìgún Sitou (1932-1999)
My Embroidered Boubou and Pretty Radio, 1978
Pigment inkjet print, 2012, from original negative
12 x 12 inches (30.5 x 30.5 cm)
Private collection

2.El Hadj Tijani Àdìgún Sitou (1932-1999)
See My Henna, 1983
Pigment inkjet print, 2012, from original negative
12 x 12 inches (30.5 x 30.5 cm)
Private collection