The remarkable true story of Ghana’s first photojournalist – a pioneer who celebrated beauty and glamour across the continents

James Barnor, Ghana’s first photojournalist, documented his nation's journey to independence in 1957 and later founded the country's first colour photography laboratory. His work, spanning continents and cultures, captures Black communities during transformative periods, from Accra to London. Best known for his portraits from the 1950s to the 1970s, Barnor celebrates Black beauty, style, and glamour through his lens.

From his Ever Young studio to downtown Accra and central London, he documented the identity of his subjects, leaving a visual archive of daily life. The Sony World Photography Awards 2027 honored Barnor with the Outstanding Contribution to Photography title, placing him among distinguished photographers who shaped the industry. A retrospective of over 50 works by James Barnor will be displayed at London’s Somerset House in April 2027, accompanied by an exhibition tracing his path from Accra to London.

Born in 1929, Barnor learned photography under his cousin, portrait photographer J. P. D. Dodoo, before becoming the first staff photographer at Ghana’s Daily Graphic in 1950. He opened the Ever Young studio in Accra’s Jamestown district in 1953, capturing shop assistants, students, traffic officers, judges, and political figures.

Barnor later moved to the UK in 1959 to enhance his technical skills, studying at Medway College of Art in Kent and working as a colour printer at Colour Processing Laboratories. He returned to Ghana in 1969 as the technical representative for Agfa-Gevaert, establishing the nation's first colour processing laboratory. Barnor's work has been exhibited in prominent galleries worldwide, including London’s Somerset House, Detroit Institute of Arts, and MoMA in New York, highlighting his pivotal role in photography history.