Africa

by Sebastião Salgado, Mia Couto, Lélia Wanick Salgado (Idea)

Sebastião Salgado is one the most respected photojournalists working today, his reputation forged by decades of dedication and powerful black-and-white images of dispossessed and distressed people, taken in places where most wouldn’t dare to go. Although he has photographed throughout South America and around the globe, his work most heavily concentrates on Africa, where he has shot more than 40 reportage works over a period of 30 years. From the Dinka tribes in Sudan and the Himba in Namibia to gorillas and volcanoes in the lakes region to displaced peoples throughout the continent, Salgado shows us all facets of African life today. Whether he’s documenting refugees or vast landscapes, Salgado knows exactly how to grab the essence of a moment so that when one sees his images one is involuntarily drawn into them. His images artfully teach us the disastrous effects of war, poverty, disease, and hostile climatic conditions. This book brings together Salgado’s photos of Africa in three parts. The first concentrates on the southern part of the continent (Mozambique, Malawi, Angola, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia), the second on the Great Lakes region (Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya), and the third on the Sub-Saharan region (Burkina Faso, Mali, Sudan, Somalia, Chad, Mauritania, Senegal, Ethiopia). Texts are provided by renowned Mozambique novelist Mia Couto, who describes how today’s Africa reflects the effects of colonization as well as the consequences of economic, social, and environmental crises.This stunning book is not only a sweeping document of Africa but an homage to the continent’s history, people, and natural phenomena.

Genres: Photography, Africa, Art, Art Design, Anthropology

335 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Sebastião Ribeiro Salgado Júnior was a Brazilian social documentary photographer and photojournalist.
He traveled in over 120 countries for his photographic projects. Most of these have appeared in numerous press publications and books. Touring exhibitions of his work have been presented throughout the world.
Salgado was a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He was awarded the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund Grant in 1982, Foreign Honorary Membership of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1992; and the Royal Photographic Society's Centenary Medal and Honorary Fellowship (HonFRPS) in 1993. He was a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts at the Institut de France since April 2016.

Reviews

[carpe librorum :)]

A fotografia de Sebastião Salgado é altamente estetizada, focada até à alma. Mesmo nos cenários de maior desespero, destruição e morte, toda a fealdade é transformada em beleza através da lente deste autor. Mas também há retratos fabulosos, animais magestosos e paisagens de cortar a respiração. África em toda a sua vastidão e diversidade, cada foto, uma história que perdura muito para além da imagem. Acompanhado pela escrita de Mia Couto, este livro é dupla poesia, nas palavras e na fotografia:

"Salgado faz de África não um destino mas uma viagem. O brasileiro não visitou lugares. Ele viajou através de pessoas."

[Tim Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an article recently that questioned if Steve McCurry's photography is "too perfect" to be called documentary photography. That same question could be asked about Sebastiao Salgado's work. This book, more than his "Sahel" book makes me believe that he does show more than the perfection that do commonly is shown when speaking of his long and distinguished career. This book tells a story, both terrible and luscious, about chunks of Africa. While some images I think could've been left out or composed better, it is the flow of many images and the stunning timeliness of his shutter that makes this an excellent composition in 315 pages.

[Hannah Galli · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring and beautiful book. Salgado is a master at this powerful media.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge and heavy. I'm surprised my library has it. Not a lot of words; the images speak for themselves. One can flip through it in less than an hour, or one can spend months with it absorbing each image as a work unto itself.

What I learned is that there are volcanoes in the DRC. Not only that, but they're active. Africa is still the dark continent and many of us in the rest of the world know far too little about it.

But most of the photos are of refugees and victims of starvation. View only if you've a stronger stomach than I. It's one thing to know this stuff from the news, another to see bits of it through the lens of a witness.

[Kim Lycan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not typically a fan of photo books in general. I have seen works by many photographers that I found good, but most of the time I am bored. AFRICA was different. For me the images told a story of different people and conditions existing on one continent. I enjoyed the feeling conveyed in the images that didnt leave me feeling sympathy, but rather curiosity for learning more.

[Cassiokendi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apesar de ser um livro fotográfico, cada foto contém tanta história que senti como se tivesse 'lido' o livro de fato. As imagens são incrivelmente belas e profundamente tristes, mostrando a realidade de anos de doença, guerra, fome e morte que marcaram diferentes países africanos no último século.

[Viktoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

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