Normski

Norman Anderson (born 1966), better known as Normski, is a British broadcaster, photographer, and DJ.¹

Anderson was born in Camden, London.¹ He was given his first camera at the age of nine, and was inspired by photographer Horace Ové, whose son was a friend.²

Anderson established himself within London's hip-hop scene in the 1980s, photographing the fashion associated with the scene for magazines including The Face and Vogue. He also became a fashion designer, using patterns associated with black African cultural heritage.³ Anderson has photographed the likes of Public Enemy, De La Soul, Ice Cube, and Queen Latifah.

Described as "larger than life and effusive",⁴ he came into wider public attention as Normski when he fronted BBC television's DEF II and Dance Energy, flagship "youth" shows on BBC2 in the late 1980s and early 1990s.⁵⁶ Anderson has also appeared on various TV shows and documentaries.⁷

His photography on the theme of the "Black British experience" has been exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.⁸⁹

On the radio, he has appeared on BBC Radio 1, Kiss 100,¹⁰ and with regular shows on Push FM¹¹ and Flex FM.¹²

His fanzine Darker Shade of White captures images from the 1980s UK hip-hop culture.¹³

In September 2023, he released the book Man With The Golden Shutter, a selection of his photography.¹⁴

• Man With The Golden Shutter. UK: ACC Art Books, 2023. ISBN 9781788842341.