Burkinabé music, dance and youth culture captured by photographer Sanlé Sory Published duration 10 April 2019

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.

image copyright Sanle Sory image caption Surprise party en ville (Surprise party in town), 1974

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.

image copyright Sanle Sory image caption Les jeunes danseurs de Sikasso Sira (The young dancers of the Sikasso Sira neighbourhood), 1972

image copyright Sanle Sory image caption Le diable noir (The black devil), 1975

image copyright Sanle Sory image caption Le quart d'heure rumba à la soirée privée (Fifteen minutes of rumba at a private party), 1977

image copyright Sanle Sory image caption Le malien et ses chaussures têtes de nègre (The Malian and his black platform shoes), 1975

image copyright Sanle Sory image caption Lunettes nocturnes (Night glasses), 1977

image copyright Sanle Sory image caption Le musicien (The musician), 1967

image copyright Sanle Sory image caption Les deux amoureux de Dogona (The two lovers of Dogona), 1972

image copyright Sanle Sory image caption Les danseurs de makossa (Makossa music dancers), 1976

image copyright Sanle Sory image caption 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.