Self-taught photographer Bandele 'Tex' Ajetunmobi emigrated from Nigeria to England in the late 1940s and settled in Cable Street in London's East End.

A talented artist, he discovered photography as a medium that could capture instantly the vibrant new community he had adopted as his own.

Self portrait of 'Tex'

The photographs span three decades of London life from the 50s to the late 70s.

Ajetunmobi - or 'Tex' as he was affectionately known - died in 1994, leaving a huge collection of photographic equipment, and images and negatives that were put into storage.

important

Last year the images were uncovered by his niece, Victoria Loughran, who was sure that she had stumbled upon an important body of work.

"From my research, it seems Tex was the earliest black photographer working in the UK" she told us.

Victoria took some of the images to the Museum of London, to Autograph (the Association of Black Photographers) and to the Photographers' Gallery - all of whom agreed with her.

Tex used to stop people in the road and ask to take their picture. He was fascinated by people.

Tex's photographs depict ordinary people of all races going about their everyday lives.

Intimate portraits range from mixed couples in pubs and groups of young revellers, to old men in conversation and people in domestic settings.

unique idea

Dennis Morris studying the images

BBC London arranged for photographer Dennis Morris, (famed for his Bob Marley images as well as documentary pictures of Southall) to have a sneak preview of Tex's work.

"It's the first time I've seen such a large collection by a black photographer from that era in England," said Dennis. "It gives a unique idea of what life would have been like for the present generation's parents and grandparents".

Dennis Morris also spelled out the realities of being a black photographer in the 1950s.

"He obviously wanted to be a photographer, but it would have been very difficult - other than doing the usual weddings and christenings. He wouldn't have got paid for it, but he saw the bigger picture. He had probably seen the work of photographers like Cartier-Bresson and Lartigue".

united

Detail from one of many pub portraits

Morris also felt that the community portrayed was very united. One particular image depicts three black men and one white man all dressed in teddy boy outfits on an East End street. Class-wise, Tex's image seems to tell us, they all shared the same background.

Unfortunately, none of the people in the images could be identified, but as a result of BBC London's coverage, many of them got in touch. Click here to find out more about their stories.

Click here for our slide show of some more of Ajetunmobi's images

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