We speak with Nigerian photographer Aebeeh about documenting the everyday life of Kaduna, capturing the details that locals often overlook, and finding stories in the people, places and passing moments around him.
ttahir Abduljalil, better known as Aebeeh or Shuttermann, is a self-taught photographer from Kaduna State, Nigeria, who started taking photography seriously in 2019. His work documents everyday life in northern Nigeria, from busy highways and overloaded trucks to traditional clothing, local architecture and the people who give these places their character.
When Aebeeh first started taking photographs, he didn't think there was much worth capturing around him. He was drawn to the idea of photographing places with skyscrapers, parks and the kind of urban scenery he'd see elsewhere. But the more time he spent with a camera, the more he began noticing what had been there all along.
Now, the everyday scenes around him have become the things he wants to document. His photographs offer a perspective on Kaduna that can be easy to overlook when you're living there, particularly when the pressures of everyday life leave little room to appreciate what's around you.
For our first Up and Coming profile, we spoke with Aebeeh about learning photography on his own, the people and photographers who shaped his eye, the story behind A Trip to Provide, and the places he'd love to photograph next.
Aebeeh, I miss the days, 2025
"Boys from Zaria city, gazing far into what almost appears to be an 'endless festive show' in the final moments of the durbar. I was attracted to their togetherness and color; caused by the sun setting behind them."
You're self-taught. What did learning photography look like for you in the beginning?
Before i started photography i was a fan of photography(still a fan of photography). I looked at other photographers pictures and felt really good doing that. Learning photography was fun perhaps because i was so enthusiastic about this craft…along the way it felt tedious somedays when i had to learn editing procedures like skin retouching or photography techniques like panning but all in all it felt good.
Aebeeh, The Royal Horseman Pt-II, 2023
"A native horse rider in zazzau dressed in his royal outfit poses for a picture during the durbar festival in Zaria, Nigeria. I the photographer, was attracted to the variegated interesting colors he and his horse were covered in."
What does Kaduna look like to someone who lives there, versus how it gets photographed by people who don't?
I like this question. For most people who live in kaduna state they find the environment and its aesthetic not too special. I mean… they are aware that there are some cultural artifacts (especially those cultural artifacts in zaria) that add value to the state and make it a hotchoice tourist destination but to them that doesnt make them much excited because economic conditions are not friendly inflation and new government policies have swayed they attention from other things… they are mostly concerned about how to get the next meal which i dont blame them for it is very human to be like that… all in all its unfortunate.
On the other hand for travel photographers who have documented parts of kaduna state, state-they take photos that tell a different narrative. Their pictures sell it as a place rich in culture western education and agriculture. its mostly a positive narrative that they put out about this kaduna especially with the pictures they create in zaria(which is a popular ancient town in the state that embodies a lot of northern Nigerian history)I have discussed with a couple of them and they find this state very beautiful.
Aebeeh, Entrance of the ancient city, 2025
"I was attracted to the curved gate, and people activities. You can see when you look through the light. I was attracted to the shape of this architecture and the emir palace guard who was standing rigt beside the entrance. I was thrilled to take the photo!"
Are there photographers, artists or music that shaped the way you see?
Ofcourse. I have a lot of mentors…one of the earliest one is PatKay he is a brilliant photographer from japan who i learnt from on YouTube… i remember watching alot of his videos were he explained techniques of photography! I learnt alot from that and that has really helped me up to this time. Also, Ted of Art-of-photography on YouTube i learnt alot about storytelling from his channel.
photographers who shape my vision up to this time are fan ho, Vuhlandes & gordon parks. Fan ho did stunning black and white work which is something i like too and gordon parks, documented black people in a very unique way!. Vuhlandes who is a presentday photographer shoots pictures in a very unique way he is very talented and i find him an insightful to myself.
Aebeeh, Bromance In Neverland, 2022
"This picture shows a spirit of unity, togetherness and oneliness of kids living in the similar tough dispensations, conditions and situations."
You seem to find a lot of beauty in everyday scenes around Kaduna. Is that something you've always noticed, or has photography changed the way you see where you live?
Prior to photography i never really noticed much beauty or much uniqueness around me. One thing is i have always loved horses and the durbar festival… i remember how excited i was to attend durbar as a kid because of the sounds of smoke bombs, horses and music. Other than that… i have never really noticed anything worth photographing! In fact prior to when i started photography i found zaria (which is the town in kaduna state where i reside local. I thought there was nothing there. I thought the urban life with sky scrapers, parks and other metropolitan stuff are the deal but now, i find local architectures, cultural outfits, local buses, overloaded trucks, tribal marks, traditional outfits etc as interesting elements that surround human lives too that are worthy to be documented.
Aebeeh, Where we are from, 2025
"In this photo I capture some kids in front of their humble abode. This photo was taken in zaria city front of the house of a locale who rare-horses. I tried to present the kids in a way they connect to their environment; hence the horses inthe foreground"
Tell me about 'A Trip to Provide'. What was happening on that road?
Oh yes, i shot that on a highway. A highway that connects Zaria to Katsina, zamfara and sokoto states (other states of northern Nigeria) it also connects to communities & local government areas around kaduna. in essence, its a really busy road. Being an exit road out of the city, What happens there is different commercial vehicles loaded with cross-city passengers pass there. Alot of local businesses too transport their luggage along that route. “a trip to provide, is an example of business trucks that ride through that path”
In the evening hours around the time when this was shot, night travelers loaded heavy materials trucks and petrol trucks pass this road
Aebeeh, A trip to provide, 2026
"This photo is a tribute to all the labourers working stressful jobs just to PROVIDE for their families. Riding out under these harsh conditions to put food on the table is literally something only hard working people can do. It is not EASY KEEP SHOWING UP"
Is there a photo you've taken that has a story behind it that people would never guess?
Yes alot of them :) the first shot here in this link is one of them. There is a story behind it which alot of people dont know… i will save the story for another day
If you could take your camera anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?
Tough choice!
I will go to japan. They have alot of cultural architecture i dream of shooting around. I dream of doing street photography there too and doing a shoot with a couplemodels. I really find elements of Japanese culture super interesting and its legit on my to-do list to go there someday soon.
What's been on your mind recently?
No shyness about it, i NEED to change my camera body to a newer one, the camera i use is a crop sensor camera that i been using for long now i have been getting alot of blurry shots lately its killing me and that wasnt the case with my previous camera in the previous occasions . So yes it is presently the primary thing on my mind now i hope to get through it because the faster the camera focus-ability, the quicker the ability to freeze moments.
Aebeeh, The Friend Who Listens, 2026
Aebeeh, Art of worship, 2026
Aebeeh, Troubled mind, 2025
Aebeeh, IceGold, 2022
Aebeeh, Tuareg Prince, 2026
Aebeeh, Regal Turbaned Rider, 2023
Aebeeh's photographs are a reminder that sometimes the most interesting things are the ones we walk past every day. By documenting the people, places and moments around him in Kaduna, he's building a body of work that offers a different perspective on life in northern Nigeria.
He's still got plenty of places he wants to see and stories he wants to tell, from photographing Japan to attending the Calabar Carnival. We're looking forward to seeing where he takes his camera next.
You can find Aebeeh's work on Objkt, Transient and Stocksy, and follow his photography on Instagram at @_shuttermann.
Go beyond the work and get to know the people making it.