Africa through a lens

Around 10,000 images to date have been digitised by The National Archives and published online for the first time, offering a unique insight into the colonies. The photographs were transferred to The National Archives from the Colonial Office Library's photographic collection.

Many of the images are unidentified and the public has been invited to share its comments and knowledge in the hope of gathering more information about these fascinating pictures.

Visit The National Archives website to view the gallery of images.

Please note the pictures and the captions attached to them are representative of the time they were taken. They are frequently terms that would not be used today. However, the role of The National Archives is to preserve the integrity of the historic public record, which is why they have been preserved and presented as originally captured.