Burkinabé music, dance and youth culture captured by photographer Sanlé Sory

News imageSanle Sory A couple dancingSanle Sory
Surprise party en ville (Surprise party in town), 1974

A new London exhibition and photo book features the work of photographer Sanlé Sory, showing young dancers and musicians in Burkina Faso between 1965 and 1980.

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Sory spent much of his career at his photo studio in western Burkina Faso, working in the daytime.

At night, he would visit remote villages along the Kou Valley, north-west of the city of Bobo-Dioulasso, to capture flourishing music scenes.

The parties would last until after sunrise, at which point the farmers and herders would head straight back to work to tend their fields and cattle.

"Life was cheap and everyone could have a ball. You could always go out and have some fun," Sory said.

Here is a selection of some of the work from the exhibition and photo book called Peuple de la Nuit.

News imageSanle Sory A couple dancingSanle Sory
Les jeunes danseurs de Sikasso Sira (The young dancers of the Sikasso Sira neighbourhood), 1972
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News imageSanle Sory A man showing off his jacketSanle Sory
Le diable noir (The black devil), 1975
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News imageSanle Sory A group dancingSanle Sory
Le quart d'heure rumba à la soirée privée (Fifteen minutes of rumba at a private party), 1977
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News imageSanle Sory A man dancingSanle Sory
Le malien et ses chaussures têtes de nègre (The Malian and his black platform shoes), 1975
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News imageSanle Sory Two men posing in sunglassesSanle Sory
Lunettes nocturnes (Night glasses), 1977
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News imageSanle Sory A man posing with a guitarSanle Sory
Le musicien (The musician), 1967
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News imageSanle Sory A couple dancingSanle Sory
Les deux amoureux de Dogona (The two lovers of Dogona), 1972
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News imageSanle Sory A group dancingSanle Sory
Les danseurs de makossa (Makossa music dancers), 1976
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News imageSanle Sory A couple dancingSanle Sory
Valse à Bobo (Waltz in Bobo), 1968

The photo book Peuple de la Nuit is published by Stanley/Barker.

The exhibition is at the David Hill Gallery in London from 5 April until 31 May 2019.