One of Africa’s most celebrated photographers, George Osodi, has honoured a pioneering figure in Nigerian photography on World Photography Day with a compelling photo series. Bonny Island 2024.

“On this World Photography Day, I celebrate the remarkable African photographer J.A. Green,” Osodi states. “I invite you to journey with me to the ancestral landscape of Green’s Iwoama community in Bonny Island, located in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria.”

J.A. Green, recognized as Nigeria’s pioneering photographer, captured the essence of this region during the height of European colonial occupation. Despite his significant contributions, documentation about him is sparse, with the notable exception of the book African Photographer, edited by Martha Anderson and Lisa Aronson, and featuring contributions from Prof. Joe Alagoa, Tam Fiofori, and Christraud Geary. Osodi’s tribute through his latest series serves as a vital reminder of Green’s enduring legacy.

Words by George Osodi. Photographs credit: George Osodi