14 Feb 2023

Alliance Francaise of Gaborone recently  showcased the works of the legendary Ghanaian photographer James Barnor titled Life According to James Barnor, Photographs of Ghana and the United Kingdom, 1948-1980. 

Barnor’s career spans six decades, although for much of the period his work was not widely known. 

“We promote mainly French Francophone culture but also artistes from Botswana. It is because of Barnor’s important work that we showcased his work,” explained Alliance Francaise Gaborone Director Angelique Saverino. 

The first black photojournalist employed by the Daily Graphic newspaper in Ghana, Barnor was around when most things happened in those years. He bore witness to Ghana’s independence. 

He was in England when the Beatles were around, he was around when Drum, a lifestyle magazine was established in apartheid South Africa and even scored a job with them. 

The grandfather of photography is also credited with introducing colour processing in Ghana in the 1970s. 

Barnor’s Life According to James Barnor, Photographs of Ghana and the United Kingdom exhibition characterises the transition of societies, with Ghana moving toward independence, and London becoming a multicultural city. 

The unexplored photographic excerpts characterises freedom and lightness in his subjects, with captions of political, social and sporting events both in London and Ghana during the 1948-1980 period. 

The 93-year-old who did several assignments for Drum magazine, in an online interview, that working for Drum changed the game for his career.

“No black photographer’s work could be recognised during that time, and publishing on Drum was huge for me,” he said. 

He said the magazine was an important platform for black writers and photographers who changed how society perceived black people. 

“Publishing on Drum magazine also opened opportunities and recognition for us,” he noted. 

Giving advice to the young photographers, Barnor implored them to use their lenses to capture history of their society and countries. 

“Use this craft properly, not just for pleasure but to educate,” he said, adding that his archives had a lot of which could have been lost. 

But, he said, more people were learning through his images. 

“I am lucky to have followed this path, photography shows a sense of art and beauty. I would advise young people to use it as a means to record important historic events,” he said. 

In today’s commercialisation where everything is in monetary terms, Barnor said he acknowledged that art had economically evolved over the years. 

“I never thought my work could be sold and at so much, things have changed,” he said. 

He said when he started photography, there was never any talk of commercialising. 

Alliance Francaise Gaborone will next month host another exhibition featuring the works of French photographer Sian Pottok, who has been in Botswana since last year. 

Saverino also said they would have a cartoon exhibition, as well as collaborate with Botswana artist who would organise different exhibitions of artists from Botswana. Ends