Diaspora Royalty| 2025

This photograph tells the story of two Yoruba women, dressed in traditional aso-ebi with beautifully tied gele, walking through a London street of Peckham. Wrapped in a golden Dior shawl and carrying bold, elegant accessories, they bring the spirit of Yoruba culture into the heart of the UK. These women are often lovingly called “Yoruba mummies” or "Mummy London" they are more than just stylish figures. They are mothers, aunties, and community leaders who carry their heritage with pride. Their fashion, grace, and presence speak to a deep tradition that has traveled from Nigeria to London, still alive and thriving. As an artist, I’m drawn to how culture moves with people, how traditions are not left behind, but carried forward in everyday moments. This image captures just that: Yoruba identity standing tall in a modern city. It’s about dignity, beauty, and the quiet strength of women who hold onto where they come from, even as they build new lives abroad. This piece is a tribute to legacy, an image that honors both the richness of Yoruba culture and the resilience of those who keep it alive far from home.