June 15th: Today's Feature

June

Neil Emile Elias Kenlock MBE a Jamaican-born photographer and media professional, was born in 1950 and has been a resident of London since the 1960s. Notably, Kenlock served as the official photographer for the British Black Panthers during the 1960s and 1970s, contributing significantly to documenting the black experience in the UK. Additionally, Kenlock co-founded Choice FM, the first radio station in Britain specifically catering to the black community.

Background and Career

Neil Kenlock, born in 1950 in Port Antonio, Jamaica, was raised by his grandmother until he moved to London in 1963 to join his parents in Brixton. Growing up in south London, he captured the lives of the local community through his photography, particularly focusing on family occasions. His body of work reflects a deep exploration of various aspects of black British culture and history.

After gaining experience in photographic studios, Kenlock became a staff photographer for West Indian World, one of the pioneering black British newspapers, in 1973. Throughout his initial two decades as a professional photographer, he specialised in fashion, beauty, celebrities, and the cultural lifestyles of Black Britons. Notably, he also engaged in street photography and actively participated in the British Black Panther movement during the late 1960s and 1970s. As the group's official photographer, he documented anti-racist protests and demonstrations across the UK.

Kenlock, a co-founder of the influential magazine Root, played a significant role in documenting the Black lifestyle in Britain during the late 1970s to the mid-1980s before continuing on to become a co-founder of Choice FM, the first radio station in the UK dedicated to serving the black community.

Kenlock's photographic archive includes prominent figures and leaders in the black community, such as Olive Morris, Altheia Jones-LeCointe, Courtney Laws, Audley Baines, Darcus Howe, and Lionel Morrison. Throughout his career, Kenlock also had the opportunity to photograph renowned international personalities like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Eartha Kitt, Donald Quarrie, Eddy Grant, James Baldwin, Muhammad Ali, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, John Holt, Diane Abbott, Michael Manley, and Indira Gandhi.

Exhibition

In August 2018, the Black Cultural Archives (BCA) commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Empire Windrush's arrival in the United Kingdom by showcasing 70 of Kenlock's photographs in the exhibition titled Expectations: The untold story of Black community leaders. Curated by Emelia Kenlock, the exhibition featured prominent African and Caribbean figures .

Funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project aimed to provide access to examples of black leadership and archive material beyond traditional educational settings. Kenlock emphasised the importance of recognising black excellence and celebrating the legacy of the Windrush generation. Through this exhibition, he sought to contribute to the national cultural narrative and engage new audiences in a meaningful dialogue about the history of black communities in the UK.

Honours & Legacy

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to media, Kenlock was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours.

Furthermore, in February 2022, he was honoured by being named one of the top six Black British photographers by CasildART, alongside other distinguished photographers such as Charlie Phillips, James Barnor, Armet Francis, Pogus Caesar, and Vanley Burke. These accolades underscore Kenlock's significant impact on the art and cultural landscape of the UK.