Contemporary African photographers are telling the African story through their lenses. They are changing the narrative of their stories by capturing different angles, stories, and the continent’s identity. These photographers are capturing the ever-changing culture, heritage, and stereotypes. So, who are these photographers?
Mario Macilau
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Mario Macilau is a Mozambican photographer, born in 1948. He lives and works in Maputo, focusing on long-term photography projects telling the story of human labor and environmental conditions. Macilau’s photography journey started in 2003 and turned professional in 2007.
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Hellen Gaudence
“My work centres around the experiences of Africa-born migrants resettled in the United States; specifically, the interaction between identity, memory, and place,”
Hellen Gaudence is among the contemporary African photographers whose work you should pay attention to. She was born in Tanzania but is based in New York City.
She explores the subjects of migration, identity and the African diaspora, inspired by her historical memory and autobiographical memory. Gaudence holds a masters degree in fine art from the University of Arizona. Some of her significant projects include Magharibi (Wset) and Inland.
Prince Gyasi Nyantakyi
Prince Gyasi is a Ghanaian visual artist and the co-founder of Boxedkids, a non-profit helping kids in his country get an education. Gyasi began his photography journey in 2011 and went on after getting his iPhone in 2014. In his early days, Gyasi took pictures of his family and friends.
His art focuses on conveying feelings through color, and he views it as therapy for his audience. Gyasi worked with Maāt Gallery, Nil Gallery Paris, Seattle Contemporary Art Fair, Texas Contemporary Art Fair, Artsy & Context Art Miami, and Pulse Contemporary Art Fair (Art Basel Miami).
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Musa N. Nxumalo
Among contemporary African photographers who are making their mark in the art world, The South African artist graduated from the University of Witwatersrand with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts. He’s worked with several agencies, including Market Photo Workshop, Turbine Art Fair, Everard Read London, and now works as the founder and curator of Studio Nxumalo. His photographer explores identity, youth and culture.
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Aïda Muluneh
Aïda Muluneh was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, but grew up in Cyprus, Greek, the United Kingdom and settled in Canada. Initially, Muluneh pursued basketball, but things changed after her teacher changed an unused darkroom for students. Muluneh didn’t think she would be a professional artist until her grandfather, who worked in the Ethiopian Armed Forces, visited him. Her work involves use of color and heavily features women.
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Sanlé Sory
Sanlé Sory was born in 1943 in Burkina Faso. He began his photographing journey when he was young, capturing accidents. In 1960, Sory began the Volta Photo Studio in Bobo-Dioulasso, allowing him to create a footprint as a photographer in the area. Some of his work has been taken up by the Minneapolis Institute of Art; Art Institute of Chicago; North Carolina Museum of Art; RISD Museum and the Tang Museum at Skidmore College.
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Cherono Ng’ok, Mimi
Another one of the contemporary African photographers you should experience include Cherono Ng’ok Mimi. She lives and works in Nairobi, Kenya, and attended the University of Cape Town in 2006. Mimi produced a solo exhibition, I am Home, on African immigrants living in South Africa. This exhibition involved white and black portraits addressing the subtlety, sensitivity, and complexity of life in South Africa as an African.
Conclusion
These are some of the contemporary African photographers you should know. They are changing the way Africa is portrayed and the narrative that emanate from their work. It’s high time Africans tell their story and be proud of their background. Whose contemporary African photographer do you enjoy following?
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