These unseen colour portraits by Sanlé Sory have been hidden for decades – now’s your chance to see them in all their glory

Sanlé Sory, celebrated for his black-and-white studio portraits, unveils a new collection - Colour Years. The exhibition features rarely seen colour photographs, providing a different perspective on the renowned African post-independence photographer. In 1960, following Upper Volta's independence from France, Sory opened Volta Photo Studio in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso's second-largest city.

Over the 1970s and 1980s, thousands of people visited the studio to record significant life events like weddings and friendships, or simply to see how they had transformed.

Sory's monochrome images garnered global acclaim, but his colour work had remained largely unseen until now. Colour Years, set to open at the Photographers' Gallery in London this autumn, showcases a selection from Sory's colour archive. His monochrome works, which earned international recognition, were complemented by his colour photography which documented a nation embracing change while preserving tradition.

After completing his own identity portrait, Sory aspired to be the subject behind the lens. He dedicated three years to studying photography under a Ghanaian photographer before establishing Volta Photo. The modest studio quickly became a cultural landmark, attracting individuals from all walks of life. To cater to diverse needs, Sory adorned the studio with painted backdrops, including Roman columns, cityscapes, and an aeroplane, symbolizing the aspirational journeys of his clients who could not afford real flights.

Moreover, his studio was renowned for its prop collection, which included Air Afrique flight bags, suits and ties, radios, telephones, record players, lamps, and even plastic guns. Through these props, Sory allowed his subjects to feel empowered, transformed, and glamorous before posing for his black-and-white portraits.