African Photography Encounters Explained

African Photography Encounters
Native Name:Rencontres africaines de la photographie
Genre:Biennale, focus on photography
Begins:1994
Frequency:Biennial, every two years.
Location:Bamako, Mali

African Photography Encounters (fr|'''Rencontres Africaines de la Photographie'''), more commonly known as Bamako Encounters, is a biennial exhibition in Bamako, Mali, held since 1994. It is the first and largest African photography biennial.[1] The exhibition, featuring exhibits by contemporary African photographers, is spread over several Bamako cultural centers, including the National Museum, the National Library, the Modibo Keïta memorial, and the District Museum. The exhibition also features colloquia and film showings.

It is jointly run by the government of Mali and the Institut Français.[2] It has exhibited work by William Kentridge, Samuel Fosso, Pieter Hugo and Zanele Muholi.[3]

2005 – 6th biennial

The 6th biennial took place in November and December 2005, with the theme of "Another World." The prizes awarded were:

The jury also honoured Ranjith Kally (South Africa) for his life's work.

2009 – 8th biennial

The biennial included work by Hassan Hajjaj.[5]

The Seydou Keita Prize for Best Photographic Creation was awarded to Uche Okpa-Iroha.[6]

2011 – 9th biennial

The biennial included work by Philippe Bordas[7] and Omar Victor Diop.[8] The Seydo Keita award was given to Pieter Hugo.[9]

2013

The biennial was cancelled because of security concerns.[3]

2015 – 10th biennial

The 10th biennial took place from 31 October to 31 December 2015 and was themed Telling Time.[3] [10] [11] It was directed by Bisi Silva with associate curators Antawan I. Byrd and Yves Chatap.[12]

The biennial included work by Mimi Cherono Ng'ok,[13] Moussa Kalapo (La Métaphore du Temps (the metaphor of time)),[3] Lebohang Kganye,[10] Uche Okpa-Iroha,[10] Nyani Quarmyne (a documentary report on Malian refugees in Mauritania),[10] and Nassim Rouchiche (portraits of sub-Saharan migrants stuck in Algeria).[10]

2017 – 11th biennial

The 11th biennial took place from 2 December 2017 to 31 January 2018.[2]

2019 - 12th biennial

The 12th biennial took place from 30 November 2019 to the 31st of January 2020.[14] The Artistic director was Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung with curatorial team including Kwasi Ohene-Ayeh, Aziza Harmel and Astrid Sokona Lepoultier.[15]

The biennial included work by Christian Nyampeta, Rahima Gambo Abraham Oghobase, Adeola Olagunju, Eric Gyamfi, and Bouchra Khalili

The Seydou Keïta prize was awarded to Adéọlá Ọlágúnjú (Nigeria) for the best photographic creation at the 12th edition of Bamako Encounters[16]

2024 -14th biennial

The biennial celebrates thirty years in 2024 with its 14th exhibition taking place from November 16, 2024 to January 16, 2025 under the theme “Kuma, La Parole” (Kuma, the Word). The artistic director is Lassana Igo Diarra accompanied by a curatorial team that includes Nadine Hounkpatin, Manthia Diawara, Soufiane Er-Rahoui, Oyindamola (Fakeye) Faithfull and Patrick Mudekereza.[17] [18]

The thirty artists selected for the group exhibition titled La Panafricane are:

See also

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rencontres De Bamako 2024 - PhMuseum . 2024-11-17 . phmuseum.com . en.
  2. News: 2018-08-25. Memories and beauty captured in Africa. BBC News. 17 January 2018.
  3. Web site: Charlotte. Jansen. 2018-08-25. Art in a time of terror: Mali's photo festival makes defiant return. 31 December 2015. The Guardian.
  4. News: 2018-08-25. Le palmarès des Rencontres africaines de la photographie. Le Monde. French.
  5. Web site: Reade. Reade . 25 August 2018. Moroccan rock stars. 25 October 2012. The Guardian.
  6. https://www.rijksakademie.nl/ENG/resident/uche-okpa-iroha/about "Uche Okpa-Iroha (NG)"
  7. Web site: Claire. Guillot. 2018-08-25. Face to face with the descendants of the elite force of the Malian empire. 29 November 2011. The Guardian.
  8. Web site: Sean. O'Hagan. 2018-08-25. Omar Victor Diop: 'I want to reinvent the heritage of African studio photography'. 11 July 2015. The Guardian.
  9. Web site: Sean. O'Hagan. 2018-08-25. Pieter Hugo photographs the lingering legacy of the Rwanda genocide. 16 November 2011. The Guardian.
  10. Web site: 2018-08-25. The Malian festival celebrating the diversity and vitality of African photography – British Journal of Photography. www.bjp-online.com.
  11. News: 2018-08-25. Mali: la 10e Biennale africaine de la photographie s'ouvre à Bamako - RFI. Radio France Internationale.
  12. News: 2018-08-25. Telling Time in Bamako - Aperture NY. Aperture Foundation.
  13. Web site: 2021-04-02. Exhibitions and programme announced. www.e-flux.com.
  14. Web site: Bamako Encounters - African Biennale of Photography: Streams of Consciousness - Announcements - e-flux . 2022-10-08 . www.e-flux.com . en.
  15. Web site: 2019-09-06 . Bamako Encounters announces artist list and title: Streams of Consciousness . 2022-10-08 . Biennial Foundation . en-US.
  16. Web site: Les Rencontres de Bamako Awards 8 Prizes . 2022-10-08 . Contemporary And . de.
  17. Web site: Rédaction . La . 2024-08-25 . "Visual conversations in Bamako": discover the artists selected for the 14th Biennale Africaine de la Photographie ! . 2024-11-17 . ON ART MEDIA . en-US.
  18. Web site: 2024-11-16 . Mali: la biennale de la photo de Bamako s'ouvre avec le thème de la «parole» en question . 2024-11-17 . RFI . fr.

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