Through the Lens: Rotimi Fani-Kayodé

I have never seen photography that has instantly made me think of literature - along the lines of one my favorite writers James Baldwin - until I came across the work of Nigerian photography Rotimi Fani-Kayodé (1955-1989). Rotimi Fani-Kayode often described himself as an outsider in three distinct ways; "within his African family which navigated modern Britain with a traditional spiritual identity, as a gay man in an intolerant black community, and as a black artist in a racist society." It's amazing how well he translates these aspects of his identity into his photographs which are have art stamped all over them! He and his partner also started the charity Autograph - ABP which still runs today and continues to focus on cultural identity and human rights through photography. While he only worked as a photographer for six years before his death, he produced a body of work which cannot be ignored when looking at British photography during that period of history. Talk about maximizing your time on earth!

{Photos: Fayediabel, Artthrob, A Photo Student, Michael Stevenson; Routledge}