The Photography Biennial is pleased to announce the artists selected to illuminate its 14th edition. The organizing committee was pleasantly surprised by the many artistic voices who chose to participate in this landmark event on the contemporary African creative scene.
Artistic Director Lassane Igo Diarra enthuses: “This year, the impressive number of entries received from all over the world testifies to the exceptional creative vitality of the African continent and beyond. This confirms once again the central role of Les Rencontres de Bamako as a leading event for photography in Africa and on the international scene.”
On July 17, the curatorial team, joined by Nadine Hounkpatin, Manthia Diawara, Soufiane Er-Rahoui, Oyindamola (Fakeye) Faithfull and Patrick Mudekereza, fervently unveiled the 30 artists selected for Bamako Encounters 14. Scheduled to run from November 16, 2024 to January 15, 2025 in Bamako, this 14th African Biennial of Photography will showcase captivating works by artists from various regions of the continent and beyond, in a group exhibition entitled The Pan-African.
The artists selected for this exceptional artistic moment 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) and Sethembiso Zulu (South Africa).
Under the theme “Kuma, La Parole”, these artist-photographers will bring their art to life. Photography is essentially a silent medium. It appeals to our visual senses in a silent, delicate language. The choice of this theme, though paradoxical in terms of the intrinsic nature of this art form, gives full meaning to this bold and pertinent approach.
At Encounters de Bamako 14/African Photography Biennial, contemporary artists are invited to explore new forms, to experiment with dialogues between word and image. They will be invited to materialize moments of speech, eloquence, anger, but also hope, contemplation, silence, cacophony and noise.
Anticipation builds as we wait to discover the angle from which these talented artists will reveal their creations. The public is warmly invited to take part in this exclusive, rich and inspiring moment of African photographic art.
