Ayesha Kazim is a freelance photographer working between New York City and Cape Town, South Africa. Ayesha’s work draws inspiration from a wide range of cultures and experiences and she finds inspiration in moments of rest, introspection, and childlike wonder which materializes itself in the photographing of subjects that exude resilience, power, and a humbled sense of confidence.
South African photographer and videographer Boipelo Khunou captures lived experiences conceptually while encouraging her subjects to embody their personal and creative power in the process. Her philosophy "botaki ke botshelo" which refers to the idea that lived experiences are a foundation to create and innovate - is an outlook that guides her process of visual artistry. Her studio, Botaki Studio is a mobile content studio based in Johannesburg creating captivating conceptual imagery for clients, events and businesses.
Basetsana Maluleka is a self-taught photographer from Pretoria, South Africa.
She is committed to forging a new path for herself and other marginalized voices. Maluleka is a recent graduate of the Lampost Luminaries 2020 Fellowship program. She started her photography company Shuttterbug Diaries pty (Ltd) a few years ago and among her other activities, she is a philanthropist.
DeLovie Kwagala is a non-binary queer self-taught photographer and social activist from Kampala, Uganda currently based in Johannesburg, South Africa studying photography and photojournalism at Photo Market Workshop. Their work explores narratives around identity, belonging, social justice, and gender sexuality. DeLovie's work tackles issues around gender and identity more broadly through their subject-centred approach and brings attention to marginalized groups without victimizing or fetishizing them.
Esther Sweeney is an independent self-taught Kenyan photographer based in Nairobi. Esther's work is primarily focused on Black stories, identity, social issues and the culture and spirit of Africa and its people using vibrant hues to reflect that. Esther was the 2019 British Council's East African Mobility Grant Recipient to further her ongoing project "Culture in Art' which seeks to explore the influence that culture has on artists and contemporary art in Africa.
Somali-born, United Arab Emirates based filmmaker and photographer Hana Mire's work focuses on the overlooked positives in Somalia. She is most recognized for her 2018 film production "Rajada Dalka - Nations Hope" which represents the strong will and devotion of the Somali Women National Basketball Team amid ongoing conflict. Mire is part of the dual exhibition "Still Life," by Somali Arts Foundation alongside fellow woman photographer Fardowsa Hussein, which is aimed at breaking the norm of photography being a male-dominated field in Somalia.
Olivia Lifungula is a Congo born, Belgium raised photographer and filmmaker now living in London. Her work explores the themes of intimacy, beauty and the construction of black femininity in the arts and media. Her work has been featured in various international publications. And most recently she was a part of Ronan Mackenzie and WePresent's exhibition The Self-Portrait. The exhibition was a celebration of Black female photographers, demonstrating the nuance of not only the stories they tell, but the people behind the lens telling them.
Saphir Niakadié is a self-taught Ivorian photographer and creative director based in Brooklyn, New York. Saphir’s work is inspired by her homeland and the diaspora. She is passionate about capturing Black bodies and sharing the beauty of Africa through portrait, editorial and conceptual photography. Saphir only began shooting professionally in 2017, and has since had notable partnerships and international features.
Somali-born, New Zealand based creative director and fashion photographer Samiira Wali balances dazzle with delicacy through her portraiture of Black women. She aims to represent their strength, elegance, and beauty through her use of exuberant colours and bold angles. Her distinct editorial style in her portraits celebrates her Somali heritage. Samiira also dabbles in makeup artistry and styling.
Sianeh Kpukuyou is a 22-year-old Liberian photographer based in Accra, Ghana. Much of her work focuses on telling African stories and featuring dark skin, which she views as significant due to the prominence of colourism. Among her various projects, the documentary and lifestyle photographer and collage artist has worked on an exhibition that draws attention to the professionalism of Black hair and African attire in the corporate space.
Zimbabwean photographer Tamary Kudita uses photography, particularly portraiture to unearth and convey an honest narrative about Black identity and culture by re-contextualising, appropriating and subverting popular imagery propagated by the West. She merges contemporary and historical aesthetics to reflect how the old informs the new and also uses old photography processes to give her work a vintage effect. Tamary has exhibited in various galleries in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Her photo series "African Victorian" blends Victorian fashion with African culture and has been exhibited in galleries in Zimbabwe and New York.
Temi Thomas is a Nigerian creative director and photographer based in Dallas, Texas. Temi is also a Brand Strategist for Mizizi - the official streetwear brand for the African Diaspora. Her work has been seen in publications such as Vogue, Wired and Forbes. From ideation to execution Temi has been a part of each element. She has a keen eye for details and enjoys pulling creative pieces together to create incredible work.
Tshepiso Mabula is a photographer and writer born in the Lephalale district of Limpopo, South Africa. Mabula’s interest in photography sparked when she was introduced to award-winning South African photographer Santu Mofokeng’s body of work, which led her to study photojournalism and documentary photography at the Market Photo workshop. Tshepiso Mabula has been awarded the 2021 Women Photograph + Getty Images Scholarship. She captures the dignity in ordinary people. Tshepiso believes that her calling is to produce work that promotes equity and social unity and seeks to rewrite the narrative and change the perception of marginalized communities.
Tuva Wolf is the photography alias of Namibian creative and news editor Merja Iileka. After completing her multimedia studies in Cape Town that included photography as a subject, Tuva Wolf returned to Namibia where she honed her photography skills and launched TW Studio in 2017. TW Studio is focused on conceptual fashion photography, a style that is largely untapped in her country. Tuva Wolf's work explores themes of identity, race and feminism and how these subjects can be used to tell stories through fashion photography.
Victoire Douniama is a Congolese self-taught photojournalist whose work focuses on visual and literary content. Her work focuses on stories surrounding culture, health, social issues, education and human rights. Having grown up in South Africa and worked extensively within central Africa, Victoire also covers stories on travel, social justice, climate change and migration. She began her photography journey in 2017, and developed a body of work on les Sapeuses, women who are part of the Congolese subcultural movement Sapeurism - which was
restricted to men until 2010.