In the past thirty years, research and writings about the oeuvre and practice of professional African photographers have gained momentum. Today these luminaries, among them Jonathan Adagogo Green, Seydou Keita, and J.D. ‘Okhei Ojeikere, take their place in the global history of photography. Exhibitions devoted to the practice of African image makers have multiplied in recent years, reflecting the increased interest in their photographs, which also command attention of collectors and in the art market.
Enter Chief Solomon Osagie Alonge (1911–1994), who pursued parallel careers as official photographer at the royal court of the ancient Benin Kingdom in southeastern Nigeria and as owner of the Ideal Photo Studio in its capital, Benin City. His pictures, life well-lived, and legacies in the kingdom and abroad are the focus of this beautifully designed and lavishly illustrated book. It appeared in 2017 in conjunction with the second venue of the groundbreaking exhibition Chief...