©James Barnor
James Barnor
Accra, ghana
Born in Accra in 1929, James Barnor is a pioneer of Ghanaian photography. Barnor’s career covers a remarkable period in history, bridging continents, and photographic genres to create a transatlantic narrative marked by his passionate interest in people and cultures. His photographs represent societies in transition: Ghana moving toward independence and London becoming a cosmopolitan, multicultural metropolis.
Barnor’s life has been punctuated by many firsts, making him an incredible record historic and iconic moments. He founded his first photographic studio, Ever Young, in 1953 and went on to capture luminaries including Ghana’s first prime minister, Kwame Nkrumah. Additionally, Barnor was engaged as the first photojournalist to work with the Daily Graphic and he was also regularly commissioned by Drum magazine - South Africa’s influential anti-apartheid journal for lifestyle and politics - for whom he photographed several news features.
In 1969, Barnor opened the first colour processing laboratory and studio X23 in Accra.
-And excerpt from Nubuke Foundation, Accra - Ghana
At a wedding, Accra, 1970s
James’ colour photographs were in high demand for special occasions in Accra in the early 1970s, for they were the best way to highlight the various colours of kente fabrics.
Studio X23, Accra, c.1970s
An anonymous sitter portrayed in the courtyard of StudioX23 on a wedding day. Although James Barnor trained and worked as a colour technician for the best part of the sixties and the early seventies, black & white photography, as a more practical and accessible option for most customers, still prevailed throughout his practice.
Accra, late 70s
Family members at the occasion of the engagement of James’ cousin.
Accra, Ever Young Studio, c. 1953
Portrait of two relatives after a wedding.
London, 1960s
Portrait of a friend after a wedding party.
A wedding guest, Accra, 1970s
Wedding of a customs officer at the Ghana-Togo border.
A wedding guest posing with James Barnor’s new Linhof camera, c. 1954-55
“‘I came across a magazine with an inscription that said, “A civilization flourishes when men plant trees under which they themselves never sit.” But it’s not only plants – putting something in somebody’s life, a young person’s life, is the same as planting a tree that you will not cut and sell. That has helped me a lot in my work. Sometimes the more you give, the more you get. That’s why I’m still going at 90!’”
At a Quarcopoome family wedding reception in Accra, 1970s
Wedding at Ouuraku Barnor at Holy Trinity Cathedral, c. 1970-1980
A wedding guest posing before the ceremony at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Studio X23, Accra, c.1970
Friends pose for the camera after the wedding of Mrs and Mr Sackey in Balham, 1966
Flower girls at the wedding party at the YMCA in Accra in the 1970s
Wedding guests, London, 1960s
“The thing about the camera is it brings families together: weddings, baptisms, special occasions.... Over fifty percent of my work as a photographer is families - after all, the images I take are to remember or record these moments: that’s all we have. ”
Wedding guest of engineer Amarkai Laryea, London c. 1964
Maid of honour, Methodist Church, Accra, c. 1950s
A wedding guest in the park behind the Holy Trinity Cathedra , Accra, c. 1971
A wedding at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, between 1970-1980
A wedding guest at Holy Trinity Cathedra, Accra, early 1970x
London, 1964
The wedding of James Barnor’s cousin.
When James Barnor is asked: “What are you most proud of in your work?” He always replies: “ babies and groups!”
Today, Barnor lives in the United Kingdom and devotes most of his time to his work, in a spirit of transmission. Barnor’s work has in recent years inspired a new generation of artists and given rise to numerous exhibitions and publications, including an important retrospective, James Barnor: Accra/London. This touring exhibition, curated by Hans Ulrich-Obrist, Lizzie Carey-Thomas and Awa Konaté, was presented at the Serpentine North Gallery in 2021.
You can purchase James Barnor’s books here:
2022
James Barnor, Stories. Pictures from the archive (1947-1987), LUMA Arles exhibition catalog - https://www.maisoncf.fr/produit/james-barnor-stories/
2021
James Barnor, Accra/London - A Retrospective, Koenig Book/Serpentine - https://www.maisoncf.fr/produit/james-barnor-serpentine-exhibition-catalog/
2021
James Barnor, The Roadmaker, ed. Maison CF (Paris) - https://www.maisoncf.fr/produit/james-barnor-the-roadmaker/
2015
James Barnor, Ever Young, ed. Clémentine de la Féronnière/Autograph ABP https://www.maisoncf.fr/produit/ever-young-2/