Trieste Hosts Major Exhibition of African Photography

The Magazzino delle idee in Trieste is hosting the first major Italian exhibition dedicated to three protagonists of African photography from the past fifty years: Seydou Keïta (Bamako, 1921 – Paris, 2001), Malick Sidibé (Soloba, 1936 – Bamako, 2016), and Samuel Fosso (Kumba, 1962). The show highlights the evolution, prejudices, and rediscovery of Africa over the last half century. Keïta's portraits blend subjects' clothing with traditional African fabrics used as backdrops. Sidibé's joyful images depict a young and exuberant country. Fosso plays with his image, imitating poses from Western magazines and films. The exhibition includes a recreated photographic studio where visitors can take self-portraits using props. The works convey a sense of pride in African identity, showing women in traditional attire alongside fashionable youth eager for emancipation and challenging preconceptions.