It's officially the rainy season in Lagos. As the sky pours, our team visited the Ohiwerei twin brothers in the home they share with their grandfather. They shared their experiences growing up as twins, thoughts on individuality, responsibility, and the journey that shaped their passion for Art and Culture.
OBIDA: Can you tell us about your background and how you both grew up?
Okhai: We were born and raised in Lagos, though our family is originally from Edo State.
Ohi: Our primary education was at Corona and White Sands schools, and then we studied in Canada for four years, and although many people dream of relocating there, we always knew we would return. The day we were leaving for Canada, I looked at Okhai and told him we would come back. There's just something about Lagos that calls us in. Lagos feels like home because our family and friends are here. I can’t imagine starting a new life elsewhere.
Okhai: Essentially, we are Lagosians. Growing up in such a diverse city, we have been exposed to various Nigerian cultures. This multicultural environment has made us flexible and open-minded.
OBIDA: What are some of the most memorable moments from your childhood?
Ohi: Our parents instilled in us a strong sense of family. One of our most wonderful memories is visiting our grandfather's home for celebrations with family and friends.
Okhai: Gathering together for birthdays, Christmas, and various events are the moments that stand out the most from my childhood.
OBIDA: What is it like being a twin, the advantages and how do you maintain an individual identity ?
Ohi: It's like constantly having a second perspective. We were born on the same day, nine minutes apart. I'm older by just nine minutes, but it feels like he has experienced everything I have, just slightly different.
Okhai: In Yoruba culture, they say the second twin sends the first into the world. That's why I'm letting him answer first, so I can come in with better responses (laughter).
Ohi: Whatever. Cool.
Okhai: Having a twin is like coming into the world with an in-built partner. Everything he's good at, I'm good at too. And the same goes for what we're bad at. We're very much alike and tend to do everything together; That's the most significant advantage of being a twin.
Ohi: We are different but similar, which is why I appreciate our jobs, they've allowed us to develop individual identities at our different workplaces. We're identical, so people often can't tell us apart until they get to know us. I'm a bit warmer and an overthinker, while Okhai is decisive. He brings the ideas, and I execute them.
Okhai: Growing up, we went to the same schools, attended the same classes, and even studied the same course, political science at university. It wasn't until we started working that I learned how to have a separate identity from being a twin. Our jobs have taught us to live outside the benefits of being twins, which include getting a lot of attention and intrigue, and people being more willing to help. Ultimately, the biggest benefit of being a twin is simply being a twin.
OBIDA: What is it like living with your grandfather, how has it helped you both to navigate life experiences ?
Ohi: Our grandfather is a very disciplined man. He is 87 now, and watching him age has brought us so much joy. Growing up, we only visited him during Christmas., now, we get to sit down with him, have dinner, and truly get to know him. We've become friends, and any question we have, we can go to him. He has exposed us to many things that have made us wiser.
Okhai: Our grandfather is a bank of knowledge. He is God-first, smart, and intentional about his life. He follows a strict regimen, and we always know what he is doing. He wakes up at 6, prays, goes back to bed, gets up by 10, comes downstairs, goes to the office, comes back by 5, watches the news at 9, and goes to bed by 10. He does the same thing every single day, showing his intentionality. He takes care of us, and we take care of him, teaching us responsibility. We understand the value of money, how to save, and how to invest, which led to us starting a trust.
Ohi: The reason we built the trust is that we've always done business together. We've shared money since we were kids, we knew that two people are better than one. When we started investing, we did so individually. But when we put our resources together, it made a significant difference.
If he has 200 Naira and I have 200 Naira, we can buy an art piece for 400 Naira. Sometimes he might want to contribute funds while I might not have the means, but the investments are there in the trust, which we both own 50-50. Living with our grandfather has been immensely beneficial. It has exposed us to a lot, and we started living with him during COVID-19, which is when we discovered art.
OBIDA: What was your first art piece, was it a collective decision from you both ?
Okhai: Our first pieces were gifted to us by our grandfather. During COVID-19, amidst rumors that the virus could live on objects, our grandfather asked us to clear out all the junk from the house. While we were doing this, we found a bag containing a signed Abiodun Olaku piece. Curious, we looked it up online and, upon discovering its value, realized the potential in art. That moment sparked our decision to start collecting.
Ohi: The first piece we bought with our own money was by Blossom Oyeyipo. Our friend Tola advised us to collect the piece, and that was when we learned that it wasn't just about collecting well-known names but also about discovering emerging artists. For us, art has transcended beyond mere collection, its now about building relationships. We started collecting because of the value it could create for us, but we have since formed significant relationships through it. Over the years, we have amassed over a hundred pieces of art. Apart from the relationships we've formed during our collecting journey, art has also become a form of protection, given the economic situation of the country.
Okhai: Through this journey, we’ve met many amazing people and formed a vibrant community. We've encountered numerous younger artists, like Joseph Mobolaji Aina, who is based in England, We did a residency with Slawn. That's the highlight of our art-collecting journey now.
OBIDA: What types of art do you both gravitate towards, and do your tastes differ or align?’
Ohi: We collect art, not decoration. We gravitate towards pieces that hold or will hold value. When evaluating art, it’s not just about its visual appeal, although that's important. For me to collect a piece, I must see its value, assessed through specific metrics. We consider the artist's background, their reason for creating art, and their potential for career growth. If an artist is just looking for quick cash and lacks commitment to their craft, we’re not interested. But if they’ve invested time and effort, showing promise for future growth, then we consider investing.
Okhai: We also rely on auction houses and galleries, like O’DA Art, for guidance. If a reputable gallery sees potential in an artist, it catches our attention. We seek advice from other collectors and leverage our relationships, especially with more experienced and knowledgeable individuals. Listening to their insights helps us find the best pieces.
OBIDA: Are there any Nigerian artists or pieces of art that hold special meaning to you?
Ohi & Okhai: We like Slawn, he is our cousin, we grew up with him and seeing him grow to where he is now is incredible. Him and Mr Abiodun Olaku
OBIDA: Why is fitness important to you ?
Ohi: I started running during COVID because I was bored. I'd take my dogs and go out. It was good exercise, and I enjoyed seeing nice houses around Ikoyi and just moving around. At that time, it wasn't intentional; I just wanted to get out of the house and avoid the monotony of staying at home. But as time progressed, I started tracking my steps, and it became a lifestyle. Physically, I felt fitter, sharper, and my mind was clearer.
Okhai: Walking together has become an activity for our monthly meetings, where we discuss everything we want to do and plan for housekeeping generally. Our grandfather used to join us, but now he walks in the house at his own pace. We walk three times a week, twice during the week and once on the weekend. On average, we cover 5 km, but on weekends we try to do 10 km. We fast walk, power walk, and I've even started cycling now.
OBIDA: What do you do for fun in Lagos ?
Okhai: We don't care to go to the loudest place, We prefer going to the beach, like Takwa Bay or a friend's beach house.
Ohi: We like to go out with our friends for drinks. Last Friday night we went R.S.V.P it's a Vibe. We also like Mako, La Taverna and Rapa nui at soul beach but now its closed.
OBIDA: What do you see the future of Nigeria looking like for your generation ?
Ohi: I believe there will be change in Nigeria. Younger people like me don't want to do things the way they've always been done. The reason Nigeria is the way it is now is that people have been repeating the same actions without making meaningful changes. I think responsible young Nigerians will start to support Nigeria. I'm not advocating for a revolution, but I have to be hopeful. I don't have a choice but to be hopeful.
OBIDA: Tell us about your dogs!
Okhai: Our first dog was Tyson, but he died during COVID. I never cry, but I cried so much when he passed.
Okhai: During COVID, we moved to our grandfather's house and left Tyson at our dad's place. One day, our dad called to say Tyson was dead.
Ohi: I hadn't seen Okhai cry in about ten years. But that day, he cried, and I haven't seen him cry since.
Okhai: Everyone was scared, so my grandpa said, "You know what, it's time to get another dog." We were only planning to get one dog to replace Tyson and start fresh. I would have loved to get friendly-looking dogs, but our younger brother was obsessed with Dobermans at the time, so we got Dobermans.
That's when we got Xola, Emperor, and Xena. They are all Dobermans, very beautiful, and each has its own distinct personality. We also have our birds, we have 15 of them, including names like Asake, Sola, and Sade, not to mention our monkey, Munch.
OBIDA: What roles do they play in your overall well-being and happiness?
Ohi: Having pets has taught us responsibility. Getting the dogs was one thing, that was the easy part. But from then on, we had to handle everything ourselves, from vet bills to daily care. When we got them as puppies, Emperor spent his first six months in the hospital undergoing surgeries, which taught us resilience. Emperor struggled with anxiety; he was timid and always shaking. We had to get him a trainer to help him socialize and come out of his shell. Now, he's more confident. Taking care of them has taught us a lot about nurturing something beyond ourselves. I see them like my children.
OBIDA: Do you influence each other’s fashion choices, or do you each have distinct styles?
Ohi & Okhai: Yes, we always share ideas. If one of us sees something interesting, we show it to the other. We're very big on comfort and prefer slightly baggy clothes. We love African prints, so our style is very Afrocentric.
OBIDA: What about OBIDA reflects your personal styles?
Okhai: OBIDA reflects our love for a modern look with traditional prints. If I had to describe it with music, it's like the Cavemen's music bringing out a new feeling but with a song you've heard before. It's Neo Nigerian and good quality. That's what resonates with me.
Ohi: I love the colors and the intentional effort in the design, especially the Aso-oke detailing at the back. It shows a thoughtful approach to design.
OBIDA: Thank you
