Bamako Encounters Photography Biennial Explores African Consciousness Through River Metaphor

The 12th Bamako Encounters Photography Biennial, titled 'Streams of Consciousness,' took place from November 30 to January 31, under the direction of Cameroonian curator Bonaventure Ndikung. This exhibition showcased over 85 artists from Africa and its diaspora, utilizing the River Niger as a metaphor across four thematic sections. Key locations included the Malian National Museum and the Palace of Culture. Notable pieces featured Dickonet's 'Djoliba, Fleuve Niger' (2019), Halima Haruna's 'Other Side of the Creek' (2018–19), and Bouchra Khalili's 'The Typographer' (2019). The portraiture displayed ranged from Felicia Abban's works from the 1960s-70s to Fanta Diarra's depictions of Malian women, concluding with Fototala King Massassy's 'Tenir' (2019) series.