One of the first Armenian photographers to have a base inKhartoum, the capital of Sudan, is A. Kazandjian. His photography studio operated at least from the mid-1920s, serving not only the common population of Khartoum, but also the Anglo-Egyptian government and the British army base. Perhaps in order to appeal to the English elites of Sudan, in the 1930s Kazandjian changed the name of his business to Gordon Studio in reference to the famous major-general Charles Gordon who died in Sudan. 

The services offered by Kazandjian were numerous, ranging from passport and family portraits to night photography and documentation of official and public celebrations.(1) His known photographs demonstrate Kazandjian’s strictly functionalist approach to such assignments. As images in which the documentary and factual component is of foremost importance, these visual records provide a fascinating window into the social, cultural and political spheres of Sudan during its last three decades of colonial rule. Kazandjian’s studio remained open until the independence of Sudan in 1956.

1) This information is indicated on the photographer's business card.

Vigen Galstyan, 2018