François-Edmond Fortier

François-Edmond Fortier (2 September 1862, Plaine, France – 8 February 1928, Dakar, Senegal, French West Africa) was a French documentary photographer, editor and ethnographer.

He published over 3500 postcards of French West Africa (Afrique Occidentale Française). These were published during his lifetime, with or without his permission, in more than 10 books. Postcards and reprints can be found in several collections all over the world.

Biography


Born in the tiny village of Plaine, France in 1862, François-Edmond Fortier lived for several years in Saint-Louis, Senegal then moved to Dakar in 1900.

In 1902 to 1903, he explored Fouta-Djalon, then Haute-Guinée. In 1905–1906, he travelled in Soudan Français, Kankan, Bamako, Djenné and Tombouctou.

François-Edmond Fortier spent his late years in his shop on the corner of Boulevard Pinet-Laprade/Rue Dagornein the Médina de Dakar. He was a small man, blonde, with little beard "pointu" and always wore a pointed military topi. He had a favourite remark "Le Cantal?… mon berceau, Dakar mon tombeau!" (The Cantal my cradle, Dakar.. my tomb)