03/01/2026
Bidikau Faro: A Yoruba Woman in Mid-20th Century Lagos
Subject and Background
The photograph depicts Bidikau, a Yoruba woman from Nigeria and the sister of Munirau Faro, who migrated to England in the early 1940s and later settled in Moss Side, Manchester. Her connection reflects the wider movement of Nigerians to Britain during and after the Second World War.
Dress and Cultural Significance
Bidikau is dressed in traditional Yoruba attire consisting of a bùbá (loose blouse) and wrapper (iro), made from patterned textile fabric typical of mid-20th century southwestern Nigeria. This form of dress was widely worn by Yoruba women for formal portraits, ceremonies, and social occasions, symbolising elegance, respectability, and cultural identity.
Photographer and Studio
The reverse of the photograph bears the stamp:
“J. Ade Belo, Professional Photographer,
48 Obadina Street, Lagos, Nigeria.”
J. Ade Belo was among the professional studio photographers operating in Lagos during the colonial period, when portrait photography was increasingly used by Nigerians to document identity, status, and family history.
Date and Archival Record
The photograph is estimated to date from the late 1950s, based on clothing style, studio format, and archival classification.
The image is preserved in the Manchester Archives, where it forms part of collections documenting African and Caribbean diaspora connections to Britain.
Source
Manchester Archives and Local Studies
Studio stamp: J. Ade Belo, 48 Obadina Street, Lagos
