Creative Spotlight is our curated space dedicated to celebrating the visionaries and quiet disruptors currently defining the pulse of Africa and its global Diaspora. We birthed this segment to pull back the heavy velvet curtain and offer an unfiltered, exclusive look into the brilliant minds behind the avant-garde art you admire, the streetwear you flex in, and the rhythmic culture you consume with every scroll and heartbeat.
In this edition, we are shifting the focus and sharpening the lens on a true titan of the frame; the incredible Ghanaian, London-based photographer and visual creative, Nana K. Akwaboah-Opoku. Renowned for capturing the soul of his subjects with a poetic grit, Nana’s work documents the culture and elevates it to a high-fashion, high-concept stratosphere that demands your undivided attention.
Tell us a little about your background
My name is Nana Kinq (Nana K Akwaboah-Opoku) and I am a London-based photographer and visual creative working at the intersection of music, sport, and contemporary culture. My work focuses on documenting the energy around artists, athletes, and communities, translating real moments into visuals that feel cinematic, immediate, and culturally grounded. Raised between Ghanaian heritage and London’s fast-moving creative landscape, I approach photography with a cross-cultural perspective. Working across campaigns, editorial projects, and cultural activations, I have collaborated with global brands and institutions including Nike, Arsenal F.C, Timberland, Chivas Regal and Youtube. My work often centres around moments where sport, music, and fashion intersect, documenting communities and audiences as much as the talent at the centre of them. Alongside campaign work, my photography has documented key figures shaping contemporary music culture across both the UK and African scenes. My lens has captured artists including Sarkodie, Medikal, Seyi Vibes and Shallipopi, while also documenting cultural moments around artists such as Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Rema and Black Sherif. Within the UK scene he has also photographed artists including Skepta, Digga D and NSG Music, as well as major music events such as the GRM Gala.
At what point in your life did u decide your career path?
I’ve always been a creative at heart, exploring and experimenting with visual ideas from a young age, but my career in photography and motion truly began when I moved to London three years ago. The city gave me access to artists, culture, and brands that allowed me to transform creativity into a professional practice and define my path as a visual storyteller.
What inspired your brand name?
The name Nana Kinq began as a personal experiment in self-expression. Growing up, I wanted an English name I could introduce myself by, and “Nana Kinq” stuck. Beyond its personal resonance, Kinq reflects the meaning of my given name, Nana, and in my mind it reads as “King of Kings in every field I find myself in”, a reminder of ambition, ownership, and presence in the creative spaces I inhabit. Over time, it has become inseparable from my identity and my work as a photographer, visual director, and cultural storyteller.
What and who inspired you to choose your career?
My creative path has been shaped by a mix of media, music, and mentorship. From a young age, I was captivated by music videos from artists like Akon, T-Pain, and Lil Wayne, drawn to the way visuals could tell stories and define culture. That fascination planted the seed for becoming a visual artist. I didn’t know then that it would take the form of photography and filmmaking. The turning point came when I entered the London scene and connected with Ghanaian artist Medikal, who became a door opener into the music world. His encouragement and support helped me navigate and connect the music industry. Learning and understand how to translate creative vision into professional work. From our first moment of connection, photography and motion became not just a passion but a career.
Details about your work? What does it entail?
My work spans photography, motion, and creative direction, focused on capturing music, sport, and contemporary culture. I combine cinematic composition with documentary instinct, embedding myself within the environment to capture authentic, real-time moments. From campaign shoots and music videos, to brand activations and editorial projects, I develop visuals that connect audiences with artists, athletes, and brands. Beyond capturing images, I oversee creative direction, staging, styling, and post-production, ensuring each frame aligns with the intended narrative and platform requirements. The result is content that feels dynamic, culturally relevant, and purpose-driven, whether it’s documenting an Afrobeats artist in the studio, capturing the energy of a stadium crowd, or creating a campaign for a global brand. My work exists at the intersection of storytelling and strategy, producing visuals that resonate, engage, and amplify cultural moments.
Your past works? People and brands you’ve worked with
I’ve collaborated with global brands and institutions including Nike, Arsenal F.C., Timberland, Puma, Chivas Regal, London Lions and Martell, producing campaign imagery, event activations, and social content that bridges commercial storytelling with culture. In music, my lens has captured leading African artists such as Sarkodie, Medikal, Seyi Vibes, and Shallipopi, while documenting Afrobeats icons including Burna Boy, Wizkid, Asake, Davido, Rema, and Black Sherif. I’ve also photographed key UK music figures such as Skepta, NSG Music and Digga D, alongside major cultural events including the GRM Daily Rated Awards. In sport, I’ve produced content with Ghanaian international footballer Mohammed Kudus and Tariq Lamptey capturing moments from lifestyle, and social content. Additionally, I have directed music videos including “Hate” by Jay Bahd and “Bad Company” by Bella Alubo, bridging photography, motion, and creative direction in the same projects.
Your Most Recent Notable Works
My most recent notable work is Press content for Sarkodie’s Rapperholic and An Arsenal X Chivas Winter campaign photography.
What else can you tell us about your work?
I am currently developing a long-term cultural project titled Kubolorrr, focused on exploring the grassroots Ghanaian culture that shapes the upbringing of young creatives. The project aims to document the everyday environments, games, and activities that define childhood in Ghana, many of which are slowly disappearing as culture and technology evolve. Through photography, film, and storytelling, Kubolorrr will highlight the connection between these early experiences and the development of creativity across fields such as sport, music, art, and engineering. The project also aims to identify and support emerging talent from young people within these communities, creating opportunities for them to grow and express their abilities. Ultimately, Kubolorrr is both a cultural archive and a platform for discovery, preserving elements of Ghanaian childhood while helping nurture the next generation of creative thinkers.
Advice To Creatives Venturing Into Your Field
Learn to talk about money first hahahaha. Also learn to safeguard your ideas.
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