The studio serves as the stage on which costume and props are used to construct an identity, and photographers and sitters are easily able to construct differing realities within this space. In the late 19th-century, thousands of images were taken in studios across Africa, in the genre of ethnography and anthropology, using beadwork and other accessories on coerced models to create an image that fulfilled European perceptions of distinct ethnic identities. From the mid-20th-century this tradition was subverted in studios, particularly in West Africa, by photographers such as Samuel Fosso and Philip Kwame Apagya who used the studio and props as a stage for an overt celebration of their own identity and that of their sitters. Studio photographs were now also taken at the behest of the subjects and often for their own consumption in contrast to earlier images which were taken expressly to be sold to Europeans. In the contemporary idiom, both Adam Letch and Patricia Driscoll have collaborated with the theatre director Brett Bailey to produce images which capture his company's performances which satirically subvert many stereotypical preconceptions of African life. Artists of African origin working and living abroad, such as Eileen Perrier in London, Fatimah Tuggar in New York, and Youssef Nabil in Paris, further re- interpret this tradition to produce photographs that are vibrant and life-affirming images which creatively reclaim a complex tradition often tainted by exploitation.

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Unidentified photographer, Natal, circa 1880 Two men in North Nguni dress, one standing, one kneeling	Unidentified photographer, Natal, circa 1880 Two men in North Nguni dress, one standing, one kneeling	Unidentified photographer, Natal, circa 1880 A man and woman, standing, in North Nguni dress	Unidentified photographer, Natal, circa 1880 A woman, standing, in North Nguni dress holding a scarf
Unidentified photographer, Natal, circa 1880 A woman, standing, in North Nguni dress holding a staff	Unidentified photographer, Natal, circa 1880 Three women, standing, in North Nguni dress	Unidentified photographer, Natal, circa 1880 Three women, two standing, one kneeling, in North Nguni dress	WFH Pocock, Cape Town, 1885-87 Portrait of a woman in South Nguni dress
Artist Two women, standing, wearing South Nguni breast-covers	Unidentified photographer, probably Port Elizabeth, circa 1870 Title	Unidentified photographer, circa 1870 Young man in South Nguni dress wearing a kaross	Unidentified photographer, probably Port Elizabeth, circa 1870 'Kaffir Women' in South Nguni dress
GF Williams, Port Elizabeth, circa 1870 Three women, stead, in South Nguni dress	Attributed to Lawrence Brothers, Cape Town, circa 1870 'Kaffir Girl'	Unidentified photographer, probably S B Barnard, Cape, circa 1875 Man in North Nguni dress and with shield and knobkerrie	Unidentified photographer, London, circa 1900 'Frank Fillis's Savage South Africa South Africa'
Unidentified photographer, Natal, circa 1890 'Jumbo A Zulu dwarf - 3ft high 35 years of age'	Barnett Brothers, Johannesburg, circa 1890 'A group of Zulu maidens from Zululand'	Unidentified photographer, south-east Africa, circa 1890 'Police. Shangans. Men of the Zulus' - three men standing with a pair of tusks	G Lekegian & Co, Cairo, circa 1890 'Jeune soldat Soudainis'
Unidentified photographer, Natal, circa 1880 'Native policeman Natal'	Unidentified photographer, Natal, circa 1890 'Zulu Police'	R Graves-Smith, Ghana, circa 1890 'A Fanti Beauty'	Attributed to R Graves-Smith, Ghana, circa 1890 'A Fanti Bride'
Youssef Nabil Lara Baladi, Cairo 2002	Youssef Nabil Free Huda Lutfy, Cairo 2002	Dave Southwood One Shot Photo Studio, 2000	Dave Southwood DPM Photo Studio, 2000
Eileen Perrier Untitled from the series Red, Gold and Green, London	Eileen Perrier Untitled from the series Red, Gold and Green, London	Eileen Perrier Untitled from the series Red, Gold and Green, London	Eileen Perrier Untitled from the series Red, Gold and Green, London
Doudou Diop Woman in ornate dress	Doudou Diop Couple in studio	Philip Kwame Apagya Have you seen?	Philip Kwame Apagya Come on board!
Patricia Driscoll in collaboration with Brett Bailey iMumbo Jumbo - The days of Miracle and Wonder 2003 sold	Patricia Driscoll in collaboration with Brett Bailey iMumbo Jumbo - The days of Miracle and Wonder 2003	Vijay Singh, Lyric Studios, Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal Portrait of a Woman, circa 1989	Vijay Singh, Lyric Studios, Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal Small beaded girl, circa 1994
Lucky Sipho Khoza, Wedding and all occasion photographer, Umlazi, Durban Double exposure portrait, circa early 1990s	Lucky Sipho Khoza, Wedding and all occasion photographer, Umlazi, Durban Double exposure portrait, circa early 1990s	Lucky Sipho Khoza, Wedding and all occasion photographer, Umlazi, Durban Double exposure portrait, circa early 1990s	David Verdan, David's Studio, Stanger KwaZulu-Natal Portrait of a woman with brass pot, circa early 1990's
Adam Letch Untitled #I, seated male figure, 2003	Adam Letch Untitled #II, seated female figure, 2003	Adam Letch Untitled #III, male figue with horn, elephant in background, 2003	Adam Letch Untitled #IV, male figue with horn, waterfall in background, 2003
Jean Depara The famous musician Franco, the king of the Afro Rumba, Congo, 1956	Jean Depara The famous musician Franco photographed in Muslim dress, Congo, 1956	Jean Depara A girl seated on her bed with a flower, Congo, circa 1956	Fatimah Tuggar A moment alone, 20001
Samuel Fosso Self-portrait, 1977 sold	Samuel Fosso Self-portrait, 1977 sold	Samuel Fosso Self-portrait, 1977 sold	Steven Cohen Flying 1999
Chris Ledochowski Bride with family, Gugulethu 2002

A series of eight 1960 West African studio images

Goddey Palace Photo Studio, New Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, circa 1960 A woman seated in a studio	Unidentified photographer, Nigeria, circa 1960 A man in uniform standing in a studio	Studio Billy Rose, Lagos, Nigeria, circa 1960 A man half-seated on a chair in a studio	Bendel Photo Studio, 50 Kiri Kiri Rd, Dadi Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria, circa 1960 A woman standing with a handbag in a studio
Press Man Photo Studio Day and Night Service, Victoria Street, New Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, circa 1960 A woman leaning against a railing in a studio	Tony's Photos, 102 Lagos Street, Benin City, Nigeria, circa 1960 A woman with turban seated in a studio	Unidentified photographer, Nigeria, circa 1960 A man with bellbottoms standing in a studio	Unidentified photographer, Nigeria circa 1960 A young man and woman in a studio