Cornelius Yao Azaglo

Cornelius Azaglo was born in Pkalémé, Togo, in 1924. A few years after getting his first camera at age 19, he moved to Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso where he learnt photographic techniques. He became proficient in photography and worked both in and outside of his studio. In 1955, Azaglo moved to Korhogo – a little village mainly inhabited by Senufo people and located in the north of Ivory Coast. He started to work there as a traveling photographer using his bike to get around and take pictures, but during the daytime instead at night like Depara. Three years later, Azaglo opened the city’s first photographic studio. He captured the images of people he met, mostly farmers pictured as they are. After independence in 1962, Azaglo travelled across the country to photograph villagers for a population census, creating a popup studio with a curtain for the backdrop. Unfortunately, his studio work has slowed down with the advent of color photography a few years after. In 1994, his works were exhibited for the first time in Abidjan, then in Paris two years later with other African photographers, and in New York, among others.

Adama Kouyaté

Adama Kouyaté is born in 1928 in Bougouni, a small town in southern Mali. In 1944, he moved to Bamako in pursuit of work. Two years later, he started an apprenticeship with Bakary Doumbia, a well-known photographer at the time. He learnt photography quickly and became acquainted with other photographers and the city’s studios including Photo Hall Soudanais – the studio of the renowned photographer Pierre Garnier. In 1947, Kouyaté became a laboratory assistant of Garnier, and two years later he opened his first studio in the town of Kati: Photo Hall Kati. Kouyaté managed the studio for a few years with the help of his assistant who was later in charge of the studio while he was away. Over a period of ten years, Kouyaté travelled and stayed in several West African countries including Togo, Burkina Faso – where he opened the studio Photo Hall Voltaïque, and Ivory Coast – where he opened the studio Photo Hall Ivoire. After the 1968 military coup, Kouyaté returned to Ségou, a town in Mali, where he established Photo Hall d’Union – a studio that he is still managing today.

James Barnor

James Barnor was born in Accra, Gold Coast now Ghana, in 1929. He was exposed to photography at an early age having few photographers in his family. In 1947, Barnor learnt photography with his cousin and began working as a photographer shortly after. In 1953, he established the Ever Young studio in Accra, taking photographs of the local community including politicians, performance artists, and newly-weds.   His work reflected a society in transition with Ghana moving towards its independence. He also worked as a photojournalist for the Daily Graphic newspaper and Drum magazine, Africa’s first Black politic and lifestyle publication. In 1959, Barnor moved to London, UK to develop his skills and started working as a fashion photographer, taking pictures of Black models in the streets. In 1969, he returned to Ghana where he helped open the country’s first colour processing laboratory, and worked as a professional photographer. In 1994, Barnor returned to London, where his work latterly began to be discovered by a new wider audience.

Oumar Ly

Oumar Ly is born in 1943 in Podor, Senegal, where he lives and works. He discovered photography in his youth when a foreigner took a picture of him. After acquiring his first camera, he learnt the basics of photography by taking pictures when traveling in the villages. Among his early works are official photos taken for local officials while visiting various villages. With several studios already existing from Dakar to Saint-Louis, Ly opened his own studio – Thiofy Studio in his hometown of Podor in 1963. He began with simple shots of identity. Then he invited villagers to realize family portraits. Both fashion shots and pleasant portraits, his images are a touching photo gallery of his city, including the nearby villages. Alongside traditional portraits such as a man posing with his wife, appear more modern shots of people dancing and posing with European clothes. In the 1980s, the activities of Ly started to decrease due to the advent of color photography, the installation of the first Photomaton cabins in Podor, and the development of large laboratories in the capital. Over the last 40 years, he has taken more than 5,000 pictures of people and his city, and participated in several international exhibitions.