Retna, a new library of authentic African imagery, has launched in public beta with the aim of revolutionizing the way African stories are told.

Founded by Tomiwa Ogunmodede, Temi Olateru, and Charles Eke, Retna hopes to provide creatives and brands with an extensive collection of high-quality photos featuring diverse subjects, concepts, and stories, all captured by talented photographers across the continent.

The platform, which has been dubbed the “Shutterstock for Africa,” hopes to inspire and uncover the power of meaningful visual storytelling with its vast library of authentic African images that immerse viewers in the continent’s rich and dynamic cultures.

The founders of Retna were driven by their frustration with the high cost and impracticality of constant custom shoots during their individual careers at leading Nigerian brands like Farmcrowdy, Treepz, Decagon, and Check DC.

According to Temi Olateru, Co-Founder of Retna,

Retna is a game-changer for the creative industry in Africa. Our platform provides access to authentic and high-quality imagery that was previously difficult and expensive to produce.

Retna is fueled by a fast-growing community of talented designers and photographers from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, and beyond, who hope to revolutionize the way African stories are told.

Contributors on the platform can use their profiles as portfolios and be commissioned based on search data to create fresh and distinctive content while earning additional income.

However, Retna’s mission goes beyond simply empowering creatives: the platform also provides education and resources to help them navigate the commercial side of their work, including managing model and location releases and providing legal protection.

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Tomiwa Ogunmodede, CEO and Co-Founder of Retna emphasizes,

At Retna, we understand that creatives not only need access to quality content but also resources to help them navigate the commercial side of their work effectively. By providing education and resources on topics like model and location releases and legal protection, we are equipping our community with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed in the industry.

Its collaborative approach fosters a sense of community and shared purpose. With the platform, billions of dollars spent on marketing and advertising globally can now be directed toward creating accurate representations of African stories, benefiting both African creatives and businesses.

Charles Eke, Co-Founder of Retna, says,, “Ensuring that authentic images and videos of Africa created by Africans are accessible is crucial in reshaping the world’s perception of our continent.

Retna is about more than just amazing imagery; it’s about taking ownership of the African story. We want to challenge stereotypes and provide a platform for African creatives to showcase their work on a global stage.”

If you’re in search of high-quality and authentic African imagery, Retna is the ideal platform to explore. Join the community here and discover the beauty and diversity that Africa has to offer.