Jerry Afriyie
As a Dutch activist against racism and racist caricatures like ‘Zwarte Piet’, Jerry Afriyie longs for a society that includes everyone. His unrelenting fight for justice has forced him to look at his own flaws and responsibilities. In this article Jerry shares the battle he went through to overcome his own aversion to homosexuality. “Children have never been good in listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” These are words by James Baldwin, an American writer and my... As a Dutch activist against racism and racist caricatures like ‘Zwarte Piet’, Jerry Afriyie longs for a society that includes everyone. His unrelenting...
Ayo Adene
Why do young Nigerians ask president Macron for advice? I’m watching this Interactive Session between the French president and Nigerians, hosted by the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) in Lagos. Lagos is the innovation capital of Nigeria, and as is the trend these days, many future-conscious politicians and tech leaders from Macron to Zuckerberg, are gravitating away from Nigeria’s sleepy politicians to its dynamic young people. Earlier, the French president had visited a nightclub made famous by... Why do young Nigerians ask president Macron for advice? I’m watching this Interactive Session between the French president and Nigerians, hosted by the...
ZAM Reporter
The Mozambican recipient of this year’s DemocraSEE, an award for contemporary Southern African photography, was announced in Cabo Verde. Vombe will receive a R 40 000 grant to produce a body of work over the course of the next year in collaboration with a mentor/curator of his choice. Further he will be supported through critique sessions with various appointed subject and practice experts. On completion, the work will be published on www.democrasee.photography . Photo: Passengers by Mauro Vombe... The Mozambican recipient of this year’s DemocraSEE, an award for contemporary Southern African photography, was announced in Cabo Verde. Vombe will...
ZAM Reporter
Submissions for the Gerald Kraak Award & Anthology are now open, and until 31 August 2018. Read all about the (South) African initiative here . Our article about last year’s winner Pwaangulongii Daoud (Nigeria) can be found here . Submissions for the Gerald Kraak Award & Anthology are now open, and until 31 August 2018. Read all about the (South) African initiative here . Our...
ZAM Reporter
An astounding work by SA’s premier artist William Kentridge pays homage to the hundreds of thousands of African soldiers who fought and died in World War I. Read more about Kentridge’s production in the Daily Maverick . Watch trailer {youtube}qBzUpB5g1z0{/youtube} An astounding work by SA’s premier artist William Kentridge pays homage to the hundreds of thousands of African soldiers who fought and died in World War...
ZAM Reporter
More than 100 artists, seven exhibitions, several books and many collaborations. They are counting the days to the official announcement of the winners of the 2018 Prijs voor de Kunst (Amsterdam Arts Award) on October 15. “It will be such an acknowledgement of the work we have done since the Thami Mnyele Foundation was founded in 1990 and welcomed its first guests in 1992”, chairperson Pauline Burmann says. With over a hundred artists having stayed at the residence, seven group exhibitions in... More than 100 artists, seven exhibitions, several books and many collaborations. They are counting the days to the official announcement of the winners...
Evelyn Groenink
The murdered aspiration of Thami Mnyele There are a lot of thorns and barbed wire in Thami Mnyele's drawings. One sketch shows a mother in her township matchbox-house: she holds her toddler, but away from herself, looking the other way. Alongside there is a march of angry and excited people with clenched fists. The child also clenches his fist. It looks at them, not at the mother. Growing up in apartheid South Africa in the seventies and early eighties of the last century, Thami Mnyele became an... The murdered aspiration of Thami Mnyele There are a lot of thorns and barbed wire in Thami Mnyele's drawings. One sketch shows a mother in her township...
ZAM Reporter
Tuffo, an art work by Dutch sculptor Gerhard Lentink, comes to Cape Town The invitation for the unveiling of the artist’s work reads: 'This inspiring figure is the embodiment of a man's spirit, his willingness to dive into hours of dedicated practice and give life to a powerful internal drive. It is about the power to take the plunge and create the seemingly impossible...' . There’s lots of symbolism in Dutch sculptor Gerhard Lentink’s Tuffo , a 7 metres long gift to Cape Town’s beautiful life... Tuffo, an art work by Dutch sculptor Gerhard Lentink, comes to Cape Town The invitation for the unveiling of the artist’s work reads: 'This inspiring...
Alithnayn Abdulkareem
French President Emmanuel Macron recently took his first trip under his official position to Nigeria, a move that Quartz labelled as “low on policy, but high on culture.” To welcome, he was hosted at the legendary Fela Kuti Afrika shrine which serves as a hangout spot and concert arena. Over the night’s proceedings, a question of particular importance and irony arose. Mo Abudu, the founder of Ebony Life , Africa’s first global black entertainment and lifestyle network, asked President Macron how a... French President Emmanuel Macron recently took his first trip under his official position to Nigeria, a move that Quartz labelled as “low on policy, but...
ZAM Reporter
Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Nnedi Okorafor have been longlisted for The Alternative Nobel Prize. The 47-name longlist includes such heavyweight figures as Marilynne Robinson, Haruki Murakami, Cormac McCarthy, Joyce Carol Oates, JK Rowling, Don DeLillo, Ian McEwan, Jamaica Kincaid, Margaret Atwood, Thomas Pynchon, Donna Tartt, Zadie Smith, and Elena Ferrante. The award is open for voting until August 14. The alternative award is created by The New Academy, an organisation of... Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Nnedi Okorafor have been longlisted for The Alternative Nobel Prize. The 47-name longlist includes such...
ZAM Reporter
What are the defining moments of revolt and struggle in Africa and the diaspora? What unifies and defines these fights for freedom and human rights? These are the issues Omar Victor Diop tackles in his first solo exhibition. The answers represent a clear no to monolithic (his)storytelling as they feature key events such as the Alabama marches on Washington (Selma, 1965), resistance movements against colonial oppression in Southeastern Nigeria (The Women’s War, 1929) and the more recent Million... What are the defining moments of revolt and struggle in Africa and the diaspora? What unifies and defines these fights for freedom and human rights?...
Bram Posthumus
The recent elections in Mali are based on a colonial model, a ritual virtually nobody believes in. We were crossing the river using what’s known here as The First Bridge and were looking at the water. What on earth was that, floating on the slow majestic flow of the Djoliba? A portrait. On closer inspection it was a picture of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, or IBK, attached to two pinnaces. Irresistible photo obviously. ‘Ah look! Boua dans l’eau!’ The image of Boua, the old one, an at times... The recent elections in Mali are based on a colonial model, a ritual virtually nobody believes in. We were crossing the river using what’s known here as...
Evelyn Groenink
Activist Minister Pravin Gordhan, back in government, fights to bring South Africa back from the brink. Change has come but 'the contest is still on' Those who -naively, it must be said- believed that the Mandela revolution after apartheid in South Africa would inaugurate a rainbow-coloured utopia have long been disappointed. During the transition years, and to some extent still, the country dealt with massive racial trauma, violence and a devastating Aids epidemic. Then it saw itself plundered by... Activist Minister Pravin Gordhan, back in government, fights to bring South Africa back from the brink. Change has come but 'the contest is still on'...
ZAM Reporter
On the eve of the registration for elections the Mauritanian regime puts one of his principled opponents in prison Biram Dah Abeid arrested: www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/aug/09/biram-dah-abeid-mauritanian-presidential-hopeful-arrested-fears-political-foul-play On 7 August Dah Abeid was arrested in Nouakchatt, the countries’ capital. The leader of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement is convinced that the authorities intend to silence him and prevent his... On the eve of the registration for elections the Mauritanian regime puts one of his principled opponents in prison Biram Dah Abeid arrested:...
ZAM Reporter
The fourth Photo Editions of ZAM Magazine covers the work of photographer Emmanuelle Andrianjafy(b. 1983, Madagascar). Andrianjafy lives in Dakar, Senegal. She graduated and worked as an electrical engineer before pursuing photography in 2013. Her latest project Nothing’s in Vain is her response to the experience of uprooting to the Senegalese capital. It is the winner of the 2017 MACK First Book Award, Contemporary African Photography Prize and finalist of the Aperture Portfolio Prize. Her work... The fourth Photo Editions of ZAM Magazine covers the work of photographer Emmanuelle Andrianjafy(b. 1983, Madagascar). Andrianjafy lives in Dakar,...
ZAM Reporter
Friends of ZAM get a 10% discount on Zanele Muholi’s new book. It’s a “performative conversation with apartheid’s racist imagery”, Neelika Jayawardane, associate professor of English at the State University of New York and honorary research associate at the Centre of Indian Studies in Africa at the Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, writes in an essay published in Zanele Muholi’s new photobook. This conversation, she continues, is ”assisted by the photographic technologies that have... Friends of ZAM get a 10% discount on Zanele Muholi’s new book. It’s a “performative conversation with apartheid’s racist imagery”, Neelika Jayawardane,...
ZAM Reporter
Exhibitions, art talks, conferences, portfolio reviews, residences and more in Accra, Tamale, Wa and Kumasi. It’s the country’s first festival for photographic encounters, exchanges, and story-telling. It brings together both local and international photographers and visual artists. It offers a space for artistic explorations and exchanges. The participating artists – both established ones and young talents – have a unique opportunity to share their work with an international audience and their... Exhibitions, art talks, conferences, portfolio reviews, residences and more in Accra, Tamale, Wa and Kumasi. It’s the country’s first festival for...
Lusanda Zokufa
Founded by the late David Goldblatt, the ‘Market’ lives the ideals of socially committed photography. The 29-year-old Market Photo Workshop has been announced as the winner of the prestigious 2018 Principal Prince Claus Award. The Award honours outstanding achievements in the field of culture and development and is presented annually to individuals, groups and organizations whose cultural actions have a positive impact on the development of their societies. The Market Photo Workshop was selected by... Founded by the late David Goldblatt, the ‘Market’ lives the ideals of socially committed photography. The 29-year-old Market Photo Workshop has been...
Christina Månsson
Every year in September international photography event Unseen takes place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It brings together what’s new in the photography world, highlighting the most recent developments by presenting emerging talent and new work by established artists. This year’s event welcomes 53 galleries from across the globe. As part of the programme 12 international collectives are invited to exhibit their work and present their take on innovative approaches to art commerce. Five... Every year in September international photography event Unseen takes place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It brings together what’s new in the...
Christina Månsson
A selection of images from South Africa at Liberty , #easy street and Bo-Kaap, gentrification, resistance are part of the first exhibition in the cities’ Callahan Center Art Gallery at St. Francis College. ZAM subscribers and friends are familiar with Booley’s work. Our magazine’s Photo Edition #2 was dedicated to the ‘first act’ of his work. But now there is a perfect opportunity to discover more of his work in an exhibition hosted by the President of NY’s St. Francis College Dr Miguel... A selection of images from South Africa at Liberty , #easy street and Bo-Kaap, gentrification, resistance are part of the first exhibition in the cities’...
Christina Månsson
United Kingdom Emmanuelle Andrianjafy, whose work was featured in ZAM’s Photo Edition #4, is one of the participating photographers in an exhibition exploring ‘Africa’. Africa State of Mind at New Art Exchange in Nottingham features photography addressing the complexity of life in an African country today. What does it mean? How does it feel? Curator Ekow Eshun explains: 'On one hand, there is the boosterism of an "Africa rising" narrative, that celebrates the development of an emergent middle... United Kingdom Emmanuelle Andrianjafy, whose work was featured in ZAM’s Photo Edition #4, is one of the participating photographers in an exhibition...