Photography in Africa is a diverse and complex field that reflects the richness and diversity of the continent. African photographers use their craft to explore a wide range of issues, including identity, politics, social justice and environmental concerns among others.
One of the distinctive features of African photography is its focus on the local domain of the photographer. Many African photographers use their work to document and celebrate their own communities and cultures whilst still offering a counter-narrative to the dominant Western perspective on Africa continent (a narrative that mostly sees Africa as a unit rather an an ecological system compromising of various culture, habitats, lifestyle, beliefs etc).
African Photographers also use that craft and storytelling ordinates to reflect on the continent’s complex history of colonialism, independence struggles and her ongoing post-colonial reality.
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in photography emanating from the African space, with many exhibitions and festivals around the world showcasing the works of African photographers. African photographers are also increasingly using social media and online platforms to share their work and reach a wider audience.
However, African photography also face various challenges with the core of such challenges being the economical challenge of scale.
A lack of access to start-up capital for those who come from very low income backgrounds who struggle to access funding, the right equipment, etc which in turn can limit their ability to produce the best quality work and efficiently tell the stories that matter and concerns their immediate environment.
Regardless of this set back, Photography is thriving in the African space. The evolution of cameras on smartphone is fostering the works of those who are yet limited by funds and whilst they seek a better future, they are still telling the African story one image at a time.
