ZAM Reporter
Skander Khlif is one of the 25 photographers shortlisted for the 2020 CAP Prize for Contemporary African Photography. His motivation: It is important for me to keep a deep relationship with my home country. During each of my visits, I wander the roads aiming to reconnect with the surroundings. I like playing the street photographer and trying to freeze a portion of time by catching a smile, a meditation, a dreamy or a lost look. Wondering how time has passed by and how it continues to do so.... Skander Khlif is one of the 25 photographers shortlisted for the 2020 CAP Prize for Contemporary African Photography. His motivation: It is important for...
ZAM Reporter
M'Hammed Kilito is one of the 25 photographers shortlisted for the 2020 CAP Prize for Contemporary African Photography. His motivation: This project is a reflection on personal identity for Moroccan youth based on a selection of portraits of young people who take their destinies into their own hands. These individuals have the courage to choose their own realities, often pushing the limits of society further. Whether it’s through their creative activities, their appearance, or their sexuality, they... M'Hammed Kilito is one of the 25 photographers shortlisted for the 2020 CAP Prize for Contemporary African Photography. His motivation: This project is a...
ZAM Reporter
Seif Kousmate is one of the 25 photographers shortlisted for the 2020 CAP Prize for Contemporary African Photography. His motivation: This is the story of two friends who shared the same dream: reaching Europe, where they hope to live a better life and sustain their family. Madou and Dra met in Morocco, at Mount Gourougou, the terrestrial frontier between North Africa and Europe. Both Malians have been attempting to cross the Spanish border to reach the enclave of Melilla, from which they would be... Seif Kousmate is one of the 25 photographers shortlisted for the 2020 CAP Prize for Contemporary African Photography. His motivation: This is the story...
ZAM Reporter
Nora Lorek is one of the 25 photographers shortlisted for the 2020 CAP Prize for Contemporary African Photography. Her motivation: On their way from South Sudan to Uganda, refugees walked for days or weeks carrying embroidered sheets, decorated with swirls of flowers, trees, and animals. Before the war, these milayas were used for dowries and celebrations, but now, after years of violence, they are held as the refugees’ last possessions. In August 2017 the millionth refugee from South Sudan entered... Nora Lorek is one of the 25 photographers shortlisted for the 2020 CAP Prize for Contemporary African Photography. Her motivation: On their way from...
ZAM Reporter
Gosette Lubondo is one of the 25 photographers shortlisted for the 2020 CAP Prize for Contemporary African Photography. Her motivation: "Tala ngai" is an expression from Lingala, one of the four national languages of the Democratic Republic of Congo which means "Look at me or visit me." It is an ongoing project that started in 2017. This project is part of the theme of self-perception and what we give the outside world to see us is a way to question identity and physical appearance. It is also a... Gosette Lubondo is one of the 25 photographers shortlisted for the 2020 CAP Prize for Contemporary African Photography. Her motivation: "Tala ngai" is an...
ZAM Reporter
The significance of Binyavanga Wainaina, the Kenyan writer who died a year ago on May 21, 2019, cannot be underestimated. "He opened the space for young African writers who have gone on to give us some of the best writing in generations," James Murua writes in The Elephant . And more. "He changed my perception of what being African was", Murua continues. "(He) spoke about the need to write back to the European canon (...) challenging the writing that defined Africa from the likes of Ernest... The significance of Binyavanga Wainaina, the Kenyan writer who died a year ago on May 21, 2019, cannot be underestimated. "He opened the space for young...
ZAM Reporter
Mehdy Mariouch is one of the 25 photographers shortlisted for the 2020 CAP Prize for Contemporary African Photography. His motivation: Each of us remembers those photographers who were almost smiling, where our parents took us to immortalize a celebration, an event, or simply to give us a portrait for an administrative procedure. In these studios, often tiny, the photographer’s imagination carried us to the scenery of our desires. We reinvented so many sunsets, flower gardens, arcades, landscapes,... Mehdy Mariouch is one of the 25 photographers shortlisted for the 2020 CAP Prize for Contemporary African Photography. His motivation: Each of us...
ZAM Reporter
Mehdy Mariouch is one of the 25 photographers shortlisted for the 2020 CAP Prize for Contemporary African Photography. His motivation: Hammam Diaries by Mehdy Mariouch is a trip back in time. The artist dives back into escaped, hardly forgotten, and hidden childhood souvenirs, or memories through his exceptional, unique, and powerfully emotional photographs. The bath benches: those magical places where pale and evanescent shadows cross through an expanding vape that covers each corner of the place.... Mehdy Mariouch is one of the 25 photographers shortlisted for the 2020 CAP Prize for Contemporary African Photography. His motivation: Hammam Diaries by...
Marnix de Bruyne
Guy Woueté from Cameroon, now living in Antwerp, makes art. More to the point: he creates moments for contemplation. Welkom/Welcome in De Brakke Grond in Amsterdam has now reopened. It is a rather strange experience. After entering Guy Woueté's exhibition in the Flemish Cultural Centre ’De Brakke Grond’, I hear a radio interview from hidden speakers. ‘Fascism is not an opinion, it is crime’, says a voice with a German accent. ‘Yes, but I can say I disagree’, answers a second voice. ‘And that’s an... Guy Woueté from Cameroon, now living in Antwerp, makes art. More to the point: he creates moments for contemplation. Welkom/Welcome in De Brakke Grond in...
Marnix de Bruyne
This month 35 years ago, South African death squads ended the life and career of artist and activist Thami Mnyele. Since 1990, an Amsterdam artists residence welcomed 127 African artists in his honour. ‘I liked him from my very first meeting. He had vision, was talented and skilled. A great organizer and fundraiser. In 1982 in Botswana he set up the most important artist's conference South Africans has ever held. For the first time, they discussed their future, without their skin colour playing a... This month 35 years ago, South African death squads ended the life and career of artist and activist Thami Mnyele. Since 1990, an Amsterdam artists...
ZAM Reporter
Kirvan Fortuin was murdered on Friday 12 June, 2020, in Macassar, near Cape Town. On her Facebook page, Artscape CEO Marlene le Roux wrote: ‘Kirvan, beautiful son of Macassar, you left us too soon. We lost a talented artist, a voice of vigor. Against all odds you challenged stereotypes in South Africa, also as an advocate of gay rights. You defied all odds, son of Macassar and became a world renowned dancer and choreographer. My beautiful son you left to soon’. Kirvan Fortuin is the recipient of... Kirvan Fortuin was murdered on Friday 12 June, 2020, in Macassar, near Cape Town. On her Facebook page, Artscape CEO Marlene le Roux wrote: ‘Kirvan,...
ZAM Reporter
Dutch documentary filmmaker and journalist Serginho Roosblad follows Jonathan Calm's search into America's past and present. Calm, a photographer and professor at Stanford University currently photographs all so-called ‘Green Book’ locations in the US. The Negro Motorist Green-Book was a travel guide published between 1936 and 1966. The book listed locations such as gas stations, motels, garages and roadside restaurants where African-American travellers were welcome at the time of the official... Dutch documentary filmmaker and journalist Serginho Roosblad follows Jonathan Calm's search into America's past and present. Calm, a photographer and...
ZAM Reporter
It’s been exactly five years since Juul van der Laan’s documentary Multiverse Ghana premiered. This is a wonderful anniversary to celebrate. ZAM Magazine and Juul van der Laan have teamed up to offer you a chance to watch Multiverse Ghana for free for the next month (ending 23 August 2020). Multiverse Ghana introduces you to a wealth of scientific insight and experiences, as well as the obstacles obstructing academic growth in a country that has produced one of the world's greatest scientific... It’s been exactly five years since Juul van der Laan’s documentary Multiverse Ghana premiered. This is a wonderful anniversary to celebrate. ZAM Magazine...
Marnix de Bruyne
Since December of last year, the Moroccan artist Adam Belarouchia has been a resident at the Thami Mnyele artist studio in Amsterdam – much longer than expected, since all the flights home were cancelled. This is a portrait of a young artist, who gets his inspiration from the streets of Rabat. It is a powerful image. Thami Mnyele, painted in black and red, with a halo of eleven holes around his head. Moroccan artist Adam Belarouchia (26) reveals his work in the Amsterdam studio where has been... Since December of last year, the Moroccan artist Adam Belarouchia has been a resident at the Thami Mnyele artist studio in Amsterdam – much longer than...
Marnix de Bruyne
The work of Nigerian artist Abdulrazaq Awofeso is the main attraction of the exhibition City Life in the Dutch city of Arnhem. Two thousand small faces to tell you that one shouldn’t generalise. At nearly 650 years old, it is the oldest church in Arnhem, an important Dutch town near the German border. But the Sint-Walburgiskerk no longer serves as house of prayer. Instead, it is a sanctuary for art. The Arnhem Museum, currently under renovation, makes temporary use of ‘De Kerk’ for its exhibitions.... The work of Nigerian artist Abdulrazaq Awofeso is the main attraction of the exhibition City Life in the Dutch city of Arnhem. Two thousand small faces...
Bart Luirink
Shortly before the inaugural ZAM Nelson Mandela Lecture started, an iconic picture of the South African freedom fighter and statesman found its way to the stage of the Amsterdam City Theatre. It was shot by George Hallett, who died in Cape Town on July 1 st 2020. ‘You asked if I had an idea for a background image with the lecture’, said Sisonke Msimang on the morning of the lecture. It is February 10, 2019, just hours before this South African writer will deliver her lecture. The title: Rescuing... Shortly before the inaugural ZAM Nelson Mandela Lecture started, an iconic picture of the South African freedom fighter and statesman found its way to...
Elodi Troskie
A fashion book by transgender sex workers from Cape Town. Life on the edge of the Castle of Good Hope. At a concert in New York, Coco meets Lady Gaga. She would like to appear out of an egg, and would also like to be the flame in the Statue of Liberty’s torch. She dreams that Lady Gaga will understand this vision, adopt her as her muse and become inspired to write a song titled The Flame of Liberty . Coco is a member of SistaazHood, an organisation that was established by Netta Marcus and Cym van... A fashion book by transgender sex workers from Cape Town. Life on the edge of the Castle of Good Hope. At a concert in New York, Coco meets Lady Gaga....
ZAM Reporter
The 'Terrible Ones', those young Angolans who collaborated with Apartheid South Africa during its border wars, re-enact the Biblical story of Judas. In its 'border wars' with neighbouring countries, Apartheid South Africa recruited young Angolans to fight against the black population. After all these wars were lost, the so-called 'Terrible Ones' live in Pomfret, a deserted village in South Africa. In the feature film Lamentations of Judas the late filmmaker Boris Gerrets revisits the tragic story... The 'Terrible Ones', those young Angolans who collaborated with Apartheid South Africa during its border wars, re-enact the Biblical story of Judas. In...
ZAM Reporter
'Suddenly I turned out to be black. Yes, I knew but after moving to Arnhem (The Netherlands) I got reminded of my skin colour all the time'. In her Dutch production Stamboom Monologen , actress Joy Delima explores her growing awareness of racism and exclusion. In this soli, presently on stage in the International Theatre Amsterdam, Delima interrogates her experiences as a young, black women in the Netherlands in a series of short, personal and sometimes hilareous monologues. Watch a preview here.... 'Suddenly I turned out to be black. Yes, I knew but after moving to Arnhem (The Netherlands) I got reminded of my skin colour all the time'. In her Dutch...
ZAM Reporter
Internationally acclaimed South African dancer and choreographer Gregory Maqoma has managed to continue paying the 20+ dancers and staff of his Vuyani Dance Company in Johannesburg for four very long months of corona lockdown. He intends to continue doing so but he needs our support. Maqoma and his company have impressed audiences worldwide, most recently at the ZAM Nelson Mandela Lecture on March 1st in Amsterdam. It's difficult to imagine a future without the energy and inspiration of this great... Internationally acclaimed South African dancer and choreographer Gregory Maqoma has managed to continue paying the 20+ dancers and staff of his Vuyani...
ZAM Reporter
Images from Mozambique, the DRC and Angola offer the viewer a window from which to observe the brick-and-mortar residue left by the collapse of regimes. Preview the exhibition here . Images from Mozambique, the DRC and Angola offer the viewer a window from which to observe the brick-and-mortar residue left by the collapse of regimes....