African Photo Magazine Issue #8

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contents
6 Photographer Showcase
07 24 44
A Showcase of Conceptual Photography
and five of the finest on the continent
tell their story using pictures
30 Historical Showcase
Charlene Smith, award-winning writer
and Nelson Mandela’s authorized
biographer, writes the real story of
our beloved late Winnie Madikizela
Mandela
36 Photo Tips
15 Photography project ideas to
spark your creativity
42 Gear
New Google Photo Apps offer a
peek into the future of smartphone
photography
44 Instagrammer of the Year
Gareth Pon, voted Africa’s best
instagrammer, shows the world his
Africa
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48 Featured Article
dear #MeToo, Africa is waiting
54 Photoshop Tutorial
South Africa’s IMAGE magazine with
tips to better photography
48
58 The Culture Trip
We explore ten galleries that foster
the contemporary art scene in Africa.
be the one to house the last segment of Our walk
through Africa’s Photography history.
As we say goodbye to the missionary and
colonial period that birthed the particular
genre of African photography we witnessed
at the turn of the 20th century and indeed up
to current times, we say a big ‘hello!’ to the pre
and post independent period that birthed our
African photographers. Far too many young
photographers today, indeed many young
practitioners in various fields, have a poor grasp
of the rich history behind their chosen fields
and the blood, sweat and tears their fore-fathers
shed to allow them to craft the present. These
African greats stood up at the dawning of a new
Africa; as independence movements gathered
steam in the 1950s and 1960s, a new breed of
photographer was about to take the stage.
This publication has the very great honor of
featuring some of our greats in this edition,
such as Malick Sidibe of Mali, Mohamed Amin of
Kenya (now deceased) and Obie Oberholzer of
South Africa. We have created a “Hall of Framers”
to showcase the amazing work and talent of
these greats and will endeavor to feature at least
one great in every issue we publish ~ they must
not be forgotten!
baton from the greats of old and rising above commercial
indulgence, fame and fortune, to be an agent of social
change one image at a time. We have the immense pleasure
of featuring Joana Choumali of Côte d’Ivoire, Boniface
Mwangi of Kenya, Andrew Esiebo of Nigeria and Ilan Godfrey
of South Africa. We wish them well, and we will be watching
them!
Additionally, in this issue, we feature Canon sponsored
workshops called Project Miraisha. Since December 2014,
Canon has facilitated three workshops in Kenya, led by world
Welcome again to another issue
of the African Photo Magazine.
We are particularly delighted to
publish, in this issue, photographers
showcasing studio photography
talent that echoes the work of one
of Africa’s greats, Malick Sidibé
(1936–2016). Photographers
Hassan Hajjaj, Omar Diop and
Samuel Fosso have stayed true
to the photographic style that
made Mr Sidibé’s work legendary.
The portraitures are uniquely
stylish and follow signature
themes that clearly identify each
photographers artistic bent. The
work of this trio speaks to the
heart of this publication, the
genesis of which was to not only
celebrate contemporary African
photography but to reach back
and illuminate the artistry and
creativity of our forefathers and
those that came before us, and to
never forget that we stand on the
shoulders of giants.
We also dip our hat to the creative
talent of the publisher of this
Vie for the chance to claim a two-week solo
exhibition on both floors of Blank Wall
Gallery
submit work for possible inclusion in the
Letter from “nollywood” themed exhibition Editor
presented by
LagosPhoto
The Sony World Photography
magazine, and lead photographer
Awards
showcasing
will open for entries
Laetitia
on 1st
Ky
June
from the
renowned photojournalist and Canon Master Gary Knight.
With the support of local partners, Canon of is House using its core of Fotography, Teddy Ivory Coast and what we consider
imaging skills to help local people develop Mitchener. livelihoods Teddy’s in love of crafting the best #MeToo statements we
professional photography or print. The next a narrative workshops with are his imagery has have seen thus far.
slated for Saturday 14th - Friday 20th May, seen 2016 him and will birth be a creative concept award
co-hosted with House of Fotography, a local called outfit Alice based in in Africa. This is his take We have also taken a peak at
Nairobi, Kenya.
winners
of an iconic tale, as seen through Instagram to see
45
what we find
the eyes of one in Africa.
may be of interest, and bring
Lastly, we tip off our hats to our African photographers that
you Gareth Pon, voted Africa’s
came out tops in the recently concluded SONY and Hamdan
bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
In
International
the showcase, we also celebrate best instagrammer at the African
Photography Award (HIPA) competitions. the These late are the Mmekutmfon ‘Mfon’ Blogger Awards. Do yourself a
largest photography competitions in the Essien, world and a Africa Nigerian photographer favor and visit @garethpon for
took its place amongst the very best. Kudos whose to our stark winners! self-portraitures are some amazing photography!
The Editor,
It is an absolute pleasure to bring this magazine a testament to you and to I the inner strength
trust you Sharon will enjoy it Mitchener
as much as I do! we often times never know we Additionally we also have
possess and a proud banner for the photoshop tutorial techniques
The Editor,
#MeToo movement. Mmekutmfon we know our readers will find
provided the name used by most instructive and beneficial,
Laylah Amatullah Barrayn and and what we consider interesting
Delphine Fawundu’s publication developments in terms of some
MFON: Women Photographers apps one can use to improve their
in the African Diaspora, which
celebrates a younger generation
of black women photographers.
MFON follows in the steps of
photographer Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe
1986 publication
Viewfinders: Black Women
Photographers, a collection of
images and biographies spanning
the mid-1800s to the 1980s, one of
whom lives in Kenya and who this
publication spotlighted in issue#7.
AFRICANPHOTOMAGAZINE 2 Local Perspectives. African Insights.
The center-piece of this issue is a
celebration of the life of our mother,
Winnie Madikizela Mandela whose
death in April 2018 capped a life of
sacrifice to the cause of freedom
on the African Continent, and
specifically to the struggle against
apartheid in South Africa. Winnie
Mandela epitomized #MeToo long
before it became a cause célèbre
in late 2017, standing up for justice
and freedom from oppression
from those wielding power and
authority, most often illegitimately.
We therefore celebrate Winnie,
and the latent #MeToo movement,
photography skills, including some
useful blogging and photo tips.
Lastly, we share galleries around
our beautiful Continent that you
must find the time and visit and
take in African photography and
art!
As always, we tremendously
enjoy compiling each issue of
this publication because of the
wealth of amazing works we get to
discover that is being created in all
corners of our beautiful Africa, and
it is our absolute joy and pride to
share some of these with you.
Our next issue will come out in
early 2019 but in the meantime
stay connected via our website,
http://www.africanphotomag.
co.ke/ and social media pages.
Asante Sana, and enjoy!
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