Thursday, 1st of March saw the Royal Banquet Hall of the Hotel Presidential packed full as Men and Women came to witness the lunch of the Historical book on the life and times of Nigeria’s first professional photographer; Jonathan Adagogo Green.
Titled; African Photographer J.A Green: Reimagining the Indigenous and the Colonial, the book seeks to tell a historic tale of the Niger Delta people from an angle unexplored until date.
BOP spoke with Professor Ebiegberi Joe Alogoa, whose publishing company ‘Onyoma Research’ spearheaded the publication of the book in Nigeria and he was very excited, he said “The Publication of this book is like a piece of history returning to us and it is a great thing of Joy.” Asked about the significance of the book, he said “It is most important because it can be used as a referral tool for research purposes in various Institutions as well as add to the pre-existing body of knowledge of our people and our culture”.
Also available at the launch were members of Royalty of the State as well members of the Green family. The book was edited by Profs. Martha G Anderson and Lisa Aronson, both of the Indiana University.
Jonathan Adagogo Green was born in Bonny, River State in the year 1873. He studied Photography in Sierra Leone and upon his return, set up a studio in his hometown of Bonny. His works included Portraits and Documentary Images of Monarchs of the time as well as Colonial families and the General Populace.
The book is available to the General public and is been distributed by the Onyoma Research Institute.
Images from the Event after Cut;