The theme of images of people in position of power provides interesting comparisons with those images of ordinary subjects. In the 19th-century the ruling elite were usually not overwhelmed by the process of photography and were at ease with the props accentuating and underscoring their status. This is in strong contrast to the thousands of photographs taken of unidentified coerced models who were often ill-at-ease with the dynamics of realizing an image. Those individuals in powerful positions in their societies inevitably possess a certain self-assurance allowing them to retain an element of control from the historic through to the later photographs. In the contemporary idiom images of southern African leaders by David Goldblatt portray relaxed yet powerful personalities. All the late 19th-century and early 20th-century photographs in this section are from the collection of Michael Graham-Stewart.

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Langfier, London and Glasgow, circa 1900 Queen of Abeokuta, on a visit to London	Langfier, London and Glasgow, circa 1900 Gradebo, King of Abeokuta, on a visit to London	William Moore, Cape, circa 1870 'Mancomo and his chief wife'	Unidentified photographer, Nigeria, late 19th-century 'King of Duke Royal Robes with family. Old Calabar.'
Unidentified photographer, Nigeria, late 19th-century The Orangun of Ila	Unidentified photographer, Nigeria, late 19th-century 'King of Calabar'	Unidentified photographer, Nigeria, circa 1890 'Old Calabar chief, dressed for Enyong War (Mar '90)'	Unidentified photographer, Cameroon, circa 1900 'Häuptlingsfrau v d Hinterland v Kamerun'
Unidentified photographer, circa 1900 King of Benin in exile in Calabar (1897-1914), Ovoramwen	Unidentified photographer, late 19th-century 'King of Duke Town, Old Calabar'	Unidentified photographer, circa 1930 'Mwami (king) of Rwanda with his family'	Unidentified photographer, probably Burkino Faso, late 19th-century 'King of Boa'
David Goldblatt In the Mayor's parlour, at the Town Hall, Boksburg, 1980	Karina Turok Six pm at his Westbrook home, a quiet moment between engagements, 1994 sold	David Goldblatt Joachim Chissano, president of Mozambique, in his office in Maputo. 1987	David Goldblatt Robert Mugabe. Harare, 1986
David Goldblatt Kenneth Kaunda, Lusaka, 1982	David Goldblatt Kenneth Kaunda, Lusaka, 1986