Photography, Power & the Ethics of Representation | SESSION #3

So much ‘Africa’ photography, so few African photographers

5 November, 2021 | Hosted by M. Neelika Jayawardane & VIAD

So much ‘Africa’ photography, so few African photographers In the 21st century, photographers from the geopolitical West continue to ‘parachute’ into locations previously unknown to them; imaging, imagining and presenting “othered” peoples and locations. The lack of critical education about the history of photography and its role in racialising and othering people, and the contemporary perpetuation of colonial photographic tropes, adds to the problem. A myriad of structures maintain this imbalance of who gets to image, imagine and construct ‘African’ visual repertoires.

In this session we ask: How might we create networks of support for African photographers? How do we create alternative spaces that train photographers to practice in ways that are more ethical and imaginatively expansive?

Panelists:

Marwa Abou Leila, Olfa Feki, Jim Chuchu, Lekgetho Makola with M. Neelika Jayawardane view bios

Important / Media usage:

VIAD is not authorised to grant permission for the presentation or usage of this video (Who gets to picture, narrate, position) for any public and/or pedagogical purposes, outside of the series Photography, Power & the Ethics of Representation. Permission for media use should be requested directly from M. Neelika Jayawardane, who both conceptualised and convened the programme. To request usage of any media connected to Photography, Power & the Ethics of Representation, please complete the form below, for the attention of M. Neelika Jayawardane.