As Ghana Honors James Barnor, the Renowned Photographer is Proud of His Legacy

The renowned Ghanaian photographer who witnessed and thoroughly documented the embryonic days of Ghana’s development as a nation, has been a source of inspiration to generations of Ghanaian talent. Acclaimed photographers like Campbell Addy have cited him as inspiration while his works continue to be referenced. Excellent at striking portraitures, Barnor’s work captures socio-cultural periods and discontents with a critical, fascinating eye.

Although he moved to London in the 1990s, Barnor tells OkayAfrica that he has stayed in close contact with family and friends in Ghana, hardly missing current events and found himself, upon his return, unsurprised by the vast changes Ghana has undergone. During this festival, young artists have been charged to reinterpret Barnor’s works — putting their own spin on them. This creative endeavor, as explained in the press statement, is, “Conceived as an open dialogue between Barnor’s body of work and the contemporary Ghanaian cultural scene.”

With the festival lasting from May till the end of August, activities such as exhibitions, concerts, workshops and panel discussions will be conducted.

The landmark honor

For Barnor, the experience of being honored by his home country has been pleasant so far. “It also makes me wish I had more time with [the artists] who are expressing their own ideas about my work or willing to look at my work and learn from them or criticize them,” he says. “Unfortunately, my time in Ghana is so short and there are one or two places I would also like to visit, but to expose my work to Ghana and make Ghanaian photographers or artists criticize or ask questions is one legacy I hope to leave,” he adds.

On Finding New Audiences

It is not every day that older artists are duly celebrated and for Barnor, opportunities like these are integral to introducing younger audiences and artists to pioneers that inspire them. While at Tamale, Barnor got a chance to meet with young school children whose warm reception of him, he says, was heartwarming. But the reception was also a confirmation of the importance of events like this, where the present finds context and common ground with the past.

“I like that my visit has brought about interest in my work and brought the opportunity for them to see me, meet me and to talk to me or even to ask more questions or delve more into my work,” Barnor says. “It is excellent because it's okay that they’re doing it now, but in some cases, it could have been when I wasn't present. I'm very glad that it is being done now.”

In Barnor’s opinion, events like this should happen more often. “People who are alive — artists or leaders or peacemakers — should get the opportunity to face [the public and] their followers, or people who [are inspired by] them to talk about their lives and answer questions that people would like to know. Right from Tamale, it seemed as if they knew me already. The reception was tremendous especially when the school children and the youth got involved, that's where my passion is,” he says.

On the importance of cooperation among creatives

Alongside Addy, Barnor has inspired artists and designers like Grace Wales Bonner (who called his photography “uplifting and exuberant”), Adama Jalloh, Joshua Kissi, Aaron Yeboah and others. Of Barnor, acclaimed Ghanaian photographer Prince Gyasi told Serpentine, “He has influenced many of us to turn thinking into doing and to confidently tell our narratives.”

With his return to Ghana, Barnor is closer to the vibrant creative scene and hopes that creatives learn to set up cooperatives. “Consulting one another, being frank with one another and discussing work,” he says. “Let's discuss ideas so you all develop together. Everybody is different, but we can bring out better solutions when we discuss ideas.”