The African Gaze: Photography, Cinema and Power

by Amy Sall, Mamadou Diouf (Contributor)

An accessible and popular introduction to African photography and film from the mid-20th century to present day. The African Gaze is a comprehensive exploration of postcolonial and contemporary photography and cinema from Africa. Drawing from archival imagery and documents, interviews with the photographers and filmmakers (in some cases family members and close associates if the artist is deceased), and contributions from writers, scholars, and curators, it maps a complete introduction to African moving and still imagery. This is a hugely important and timely publication―engagement with Black and African histories is stronger than ever before (and long overdue). The major names of African photography, such as Malick Sidibé, Sanlé Sory, and Seydou Keita, have become highly collectible in the art market, while African cinema, pioneered by Ousmane Sembene in 1960s Senegal, is now recognized for its creative innovation and storytelling. For anyone drawn to African photography and film, Amy Sall’s long overdue first book will provide an exciting and accessible overview. 250 illustrations / 100 in color

Genres: Art, Africa, Coffee Table Books, Photography

288 pages, Hardcover

Published September 17, 2024

Reviews

[Heather Olker · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is important to break down the colonial gaze of black African bodies. Showing black African bodies through their own eyes was a enlightened and refreshing experience for me that I have been extending to other academics in my circle. This text is humanizing and demystifying. I give this text 5 stars because it fills an unfortunate gap in art history, celebrating and recognizing the rise of African photographers and filmmakers. I’m an adjunct faculty member of photography and will be incorporating pieces of this text into my classrooms. Thank you for writing this!

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for an Afro-centric worldview