African Photography Encounters
{{Short description|Biennial exhibition in Bamako, Mali}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| name = African Photography Encounters
| native_name =Rencontres africaines de la photographie
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| genre = Biennale, focus on photography
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| begins =1994
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| frequency = Biennial, every two years.
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| website = {{url|www.rencontres-bamako.com}}
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African Photography Encounters ({{langx|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.{{Cite web |title=Rencontres De Bamako 2024 - PhMuseum |url=https://phmuseum.com/festivals/rencontres-de-bamako-2024 |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=phmuseum.com |language=en}} 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.{{cite news|accessdate=2018-08-25|title=Memories and beauty captured in Africa|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42620666|newspaper=BBC News|date=17 January 2018}} It has exhibited work by William Kentridge, Samuel Fosso, Pieter Hugo and Zanele Muholi.{{cite web|first1=Charlotte|last1=Jansen|accessdate=2018-08-25|title=Art in a time of terror: Mali's photo festival makes defiant return|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/31/mali-bamako-photography-biennial-returns|date=31 December 2015|website=The Guardian}}
2005 – 6th biennial
The 6th biennial took place in November and December 2005, with the theme of "Another World." The prizes awarded were:
- The Seydou Keïta prize was awarded to Rana El Nemr (Egypt) for her work on women in the Cairo subway.{{cite news|accessdate=2018-08-25|title=Le palmarès des Rencontres africaines de la photographie|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2005/11/14/le-palmares-des-rencontres-africaines-de-la-photographie_710018_3246.html|newspaper=Le Monde|language=French}}
- The Coup de coeur Accor prize was awarded to Mamadou Konaté (Mali)
- The Prix AFAA-Afrique en Création was awarded to Fatoumata Diabaté
- The European Union (Best Reporting Photographer) (Prix de l'Union Européenne) was awarded to Zohra Bensemra (Algeria).
- The Intergovernmental Agency of La Francophonie Award (Prix de l'Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie du Meilleur Jeune) (AIF) was awarded to Ulrich-Rodney Mahoungou (Republic of the Congo)
- The Elan de l'Agence Française de Développement prize was awarded to Uche James-Iroha (Nigeria)
- The Special Jury Prize awarded to Mikhael Subotzky (South Africa)
The jury also honoured Ranjith Kally (South Africa) for his life's work.
2009 – 8th biennial
The biennial included work by Hassan Hajjaj.{{cite web|last=Reade|first= Reade |accessdate=25 August 2018|title=Moroccan rock stars|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/25/moroccan-rock-stars-hassan-hajjaj|date=25 October 2012|website=The Guardian}}
The Seydou Keita Prize for Best Photographic Creation was awarded to Uche Okpa-Iroha.[https://www.rijksakademie.nl/ENG/resident/uche-okpa-iroha/about "Uche Okpa-Iroha (NG)"], Rijksakademie.
2011 – 9th biennial
The biennial included work by Philippe Bordas{{cite web|first1=Claire|last1=Guillot|accessdate=2018-08-25|title=Face to face with the descendants of the elite force of the Malian empire|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/nov/29/mali-photos-paris-phillipe-bordas|date=29 November 2011|website=The Guardian}} and Omar Victor Diop.{{cite web|first1=Sean|last1=O'Hagan|accessdate=2018-08-25|title=Omar Victor Diop: 'I want to reinvent the heritage of African studio photography'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/jul/11/mar-ictor-ioi-want-to-reinvent-great-heritage-of-african-studio-photography|date=11 July 2015|website=The Guardian}} The Seydo Keita award was given to Pieter Hugo.{{cite web|first1=Sean|last1=O'Hagan|accessdate=2018-08-25|title=Pieter Hugo photographs the lingering legacy of the Rwanda genocide|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/nov/16/pieter-hugo-photographs-rwanda-genocide|date=16 November 2011|website=The Guardian}}
2013
2015 – 10th biennial
The 10th biennial took place from 31 October to 31 December 2015 and was themed Telling Time.{{cite web|accessdate=2018-08-25|title=The Malian festival celebrating the diversity and vitality of African photography – British Journal of Photography|url=http://www.bjp-online.com/2015/11/the-malian-festival-celebrating-the-diversity-and-vitality-of-african-photography/|website=www.bjp-online.com}}{{cite news|accessdate=2018-08-25|title=Mali: la 10e Biennale africaine de la photographie s'ouvre à Bamako - RFI|url=http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20151031-mali-10e-biennale-africaine-photographie-bamako-bisi-silva|newspaper=Radio France Internationale}} It was directed by Bisi Silva with associate curators Antawan I. Byrd and Yves Chatap.{{cite news|accessdate=2018-08-25|title=Telling Time in Bamako - Aperture NY|url=https://aperture.org/blog/bamako/|newspaper=Aperture Foundation}}
The biennial included work by Mallam Mudi Yahaya (For Crown And Country) {{Cite web |last=Editorial |first=Artsy |date=2015-11-02 |title=Mali’s Showcase of Contemporary African Photography Returns in the Wake of Political Turmoil |url=https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-mali-s-beloved-photography-biennial-returns-in-the-wake-of-political-turmoil |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=Artsy |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=RENCONTRES DE BAMAKO BIENNALE AFRICAINE DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE 10ème édition |url=https://www.kehrerverlag.com/de/rencontres-de-bamako-biennale-africaine-de-la-photographie-10eme-edition-telling-time-978-3-86828-669-4 |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=Kehrer Verlag |language=de}}, Mimi Cherono Ng'ok,{{cite web|accessdate=2021-04-02|title=Exhibitions and programme announced|url=https://www.e-flux.com/announcements/28802/exhibitions-and-programme-announced/|website=www.e-flux.com}} Moussa Kalapo (La Métaphore du Temps (the metaphor of time)), Lebohang Kganye, Uche Okpa-Iroha, Nyani Quarmyne (a documentary report on Malian refugees in Mauritania), and Nassim Rouchiche (portraits of sub-Saharan migrants stuck in Algeria).
2017 – 11th biennial
2019 - 12th biennial
The 12th biennial took place from 30 November 2019 to the 31st of January 2020.{{Cite web |title=Bamako Encounters - African Biennale of Photography: Streams of Consciousness - Announcements - e-flux |url=https://www.e-flux.com/announcements/278260/bamako-encounters-african-biennale-of-photographystreams-of-consciousness/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=www.e-flux.com |language=en}} The Artistic director was Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung with curatorial team including Kwasi Ohene-Ayeh, Aziza Harmel and Astrid Sokona Lepoultier.{{Cite web |date=2019-09-06 |title=Bamako Encounters announces artist list and title: Streams of Consciousness |url=https://biennialfoundation.org/2019/09/bamako-encounters-announces-artist-list-and-title-streams-of-consciousness/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=Biennial Foundation |language=en-US}}
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{{Cite web |title=Les Rencontres de Bamako Awards 8 Prizes |url=https://contemporaryand.com/magazines/les-rencontres-de-bamako-awards-8-prizes/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=Contemporary And |language=de}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Rédaction |first=La |date=2024-08-25 |title="Visual conversations in Bamako": discover the artists selected for the 14th Biennale Africaine de la Photographie ! |url=https://www.onart.media/events-centered-on-contemporary-african-art/visual-conversations-in-bamako-discover-the-artists-selected-for-the-14th-biennale-africaine-de-la-photographie/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=ON ART MEDIA |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-11-16 |title=Mali: la biennale de la photo de Bamako s'ouvre avec le thème de la «parole» en question |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20241116-mali-la-biennale-de-la-photo-de-bamako-s-ouvre-avec-le-th%C3%A8me-de-la-parole-en-question |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=RFI |language=fr}}
The thirty artists selected for the group exhibition titled La Panafricane are:
- Victor Adewale (Nigeria)
- Bernard Akoi-Jackson (Ghana)
- Héla Ammar (Tunisia)
- Nabil Boutros (Egypt)
- Cédrick-Isham Calvados (Guadeloupe)
- Caroline Déodat (France/Mauritius)
- Jeannette Ehlers (Denmark/Trinidad and Tobago)
- Willow Evann (France/Côte d’Ivoire)
- Mounir Fatmi (Morocco)
- Ismaël Mahamoudou Laouli Illa (Niger)
- Arnold Tagne Fokam (Cameroon)
- Zara Julius (South Africa)
- Massow Ka (Senegal)
- Kevin Kabambi (DR Congo)
- Seyba Keita (Mali)
- John Kalapo (Mali)
- M’hammed Kilito (Morocco)
- Cynthia R. Matonhodze (Zimbabwe)
- Primo Mauridi (DR Congo)
- Mariam Niaré (Mali)
- Osakpolor Omoregie (Nigeria)
- Amine Oulmakki (Morocco)
- Marc Posso (Gabon)
- Arilal Ophélia Ralamboson (Madagascar)
- Nuno Silas (Mozambique)
- Kanni Sissoko (Mali)
- Yvon Ngassam (Cameroon)
- Maheder Haileselassie Tadese (Ethiopia)
- Dior Thiam (Germany/Senegal)
- Sethembiso Zulu (South Africa)
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
- This article began as a translation of the corresponding article in the French Wikipedia, accessed 26 December 2005.
Bibliography
- Bajorek, J. and E. Haney (2010), 'Eye on Bamako: Conversations on the African Photography Biennial', Theory, Culture and Society, 27 {{doi|10.1177/0263276410383718}}
{{List of Biennales}}
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Category:Photography exhibitions
Category:Recurring events established in 1994