Eddie Otchere

FESTIVAL SPEAKER

Eddie Otchere is a photographer best known for his photographs of the seminal rappers, singers, and DJs of the mid-1990s and early 2000s. His celebrated works include portraits of Biggie Smalls, Black Star (Mos Def & Thalib Kweli) So Solid Crew, Estelle, Goldie, Omar, and many others, as well as his official coverage of the Metalheadz: Blue Note sessions 1994-1996. He has also worked with major brands, including Apple, Converse, Casio G-Shock, Leica, and Spotify.

Since 1993 Otchere’s photographs have been exhibited and published worldwide, including on the covers of major international magazines such as Dazed, Lodown and Mixmag, and on the covers of some of rap and drum & bass music’s seminal albums. 

He is the co-author of the cult classic novel Junglist (1995, reissued 2019).

Renowned photographer Eddie Otchere (London, UK), celebrated as Britain’s foremost chronicler of Black youth culture, has just launched his latest work, Spirit Behind the Lens: The Making of a Hip Hop Photographer, on September 5th. His compelling book offers an unprecedented look into the vibrant world of contemporary Black youth culture, blending personal memoir with a collection of iconic and mostly unseen photographs from Otchere’s extensive 30-year archive.

Offering an insider’s perspective on the Black working-class experience, his work serves as a poignant reminder that visual storytelling remains the bedrock of photography, especially in documenting cultural movements.

From his iconic images of the Jungle scene in the mid-90s to The Wu-Tang Clan in Kentish Town and his exploration of rural Britain, Otchere's work pulsates with the emotion of material memory, it celebrates the innovators of Black creative consciousness and the cultural movements that have emerged from urban social housing communities.

Hailing from the epicentre of London’s underground culture, Otchere’s work has been instrumental in crafting the visual identities of Jungle, UK Garage, drum & bass, and hip hop. Through this deeply personal work, Otchere explores the romance of photography itself. As a highly skilled photographer and darkroom scientist, he shares insights into his practice, influence, and the personal history that shaped his art.