Bouba Touré’s Photographic and Political Practice Explored in Afterall Essay

Frida Sandstöm’s essay for Afterall examines the multifaceted practice of Bouba Touré, a Malian photographer, filmmaker, farmer, and activist. Touré’s work documents the lives of migrant workers in France and the cooperative village Somankidi Coura in Mali, which he co-founded in 1976. His film 'Bouba Touré, 58 Rue Trousseau, 7511 Paris, France' (2008) shows his apartment walls covered with posters and photographs, reflecting his commitment to community memory. Touré refuses individual authorship, instead producing 'militant images' that serve the liberation struggles of the late twentieth century. He aligns with Allan Sekula’s critique of photography’s depoliticization, insisting on the need for workers to document their own lives. Touré left Mali in 1965 at age 17, worked in Paris factories, and joined the migrant workers’ section of the CGT. In 1971, he co-founded ACTAF, a cultural association masking political organizing. His photographs capture intimate moments, such as a man sleeping on his father’s former mattress. The cooperative Somankidi Coura, located on the Senegal River, practices subsistence agriculture and houses Touré’s archive. A museum is under construction to preserve the village’s history. Touré continues to travel between Paris and Somankidi Coura, documenting the ongoing struggles of migrant workers.