Quick Facts
Biography
Emily Nkanga is a Nigerian-British photographer and filmmaker. Nkanga is best known for her works covering singers Koker, Aramide, Boj, Rapper Olamide's 6th album cover (The Glory), Music Producer Sarz, Broadway actor Adesola Osakalumi and legendary Nigerian singer Femi Kuti. Her recent work on Nigerian-American singer Jidenna's concert in Nigeria was featured on the singer's social media platforms, Nkanga's photo-documentary with internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Northeast Nigeria affected by Boko Haram insurgents, has also enjoyed rave reviews.
Early life and education
Nkanga was born and raised in Lagos to Air Commodore Idongesit (Retired) and Mrs Mosunsola Nkanga, she attended the Air Force Girls Comprehensive School, Jos, Plateau State, after which she studied Communications and Multimedia Design (TV/Film) at The American University of Nigeria, Yola, Adamawa State, Northern Nigeria.
Career
In 2012, Nkanga began taking interest in photography after previously experimenting with other forms of art. She began an internship with renowned Nigerian photographer, August Udoh in his company Orbit Imagery, and after her internship in 2013, she got a break into the entertainment industry. In 2014, with the mentoring of The Zone Agency (then M.et.al Entertainment), Nkanga began taking pictures at live events and concerts. In October 2016, she launched Clicks and Tones; a photography trademark operating under her company, Emily Nkanga Photography, which focuses solely on documenting music concerts.
2014 – date
Since 2014 Nkanga has built a significant client base made up of A-list Nigerian celebrities and Organizations; including Olamide, M.I Abaga, Falz, Ycee, Lil Kesh, Reminisce, Runtown, Trace TV, Chooclate City Music amongst others. She has also worked for the Lagos State Government, Let’s Talk Humanity and Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI); a project which is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Nkanga has been involved in a number of projects, including an ethnographic research/documentation of the Boko Haram internally displaced people in northeast Nigeria.
Awards and recognition
Nkanga has been recognized by several Nigerian mainstream newspapers, including The Nation, Vanguard, The Guardian Newspapers, Daily Tribune, This Day, The Sun, My Streetz Magazine, Inside Watch Africa, Pulse Nigeria, 360 Nobs amongst others. In August 2014, Nkanga won the NTC Award for the most outstanding female in photography. She was also named as one of the "20 upcoming young photographers to watch" by City People Magazine in July 2014 and in 2016, she won the Ibom Future Youth Award in creative photography.