For Westerners, Africa is either national parks and tourist attractions or endless wars and starving children. It is very rare to see photographs reflecting other aspects of life on this continent. In this sense, the photographs of Malian photographer Malick Sidibé provide a unique opportunity to look at Africa through different eyes.
An African photographer from the state of Mali photographed fashionable African youth of the 1950s–1970s in elegant clothes, dancing fashionable European dances, and refuted the idea of Africa as a continent of starving children and their feral parents. It may seem to some that Sidibé avoided the “truth of life” that Western reporters love so much, but he simply showed another side of African life.
Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick SidibéAfrica of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 1. Malick Sidibé was born in 1935 into a Fula-speaking family in a small village in Mali. He graduated from school in 1952. After recognition of his talent as a draftsman, he was accepted into the Sudanese Crafts School in Bamako, from which he graduated in 1955.Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 2. Malik decorated Gerard Guillyat’s “Photoservice” store, and Guillyat offered him a position as an apprentice. So Malik began to study photography in 1956. He opened Studio Malik in 1958 in the center of Bamako in Bagadadji, on 30th Street, where he still prints portraits and repairs cameras.Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 3. The roaring 50s and independence gave birth to a new generation of photographers who were fully involved in the cultural and social life they documented.Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 4. Malick Sidibe was the main character in this whole thing. Highly appreciated by the youth, he was present at all the soirees, where elegantly dressed club youth learned new dances from Europe and Cuba.Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 5. In 1957, he was the only reporter in Bamako, covering all the events, holidays and parties. On Saturdays these parties lasted until dawn and continued on Sunday on the banks of the Niger River.Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 6.Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 7.Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 8. He took simple photographs that truly created a sense of presence. They have a light-hearted and spontaneous feel to them - he captured a fun experience full of laughter and life.Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 9. He retired from active work in 1978, but continued to shoot in the studio and repair cameras. When his work received international recognition, new horizons opened up for him.Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 10. People crowded into his studio, magazines bought photo reports, he was invited everywhere to photo exhibitions and conferences. In 2003 he received the Hasselblad AwardAfrica of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé eleven.Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 12.Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 13.Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 14.Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 15.Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 16.Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 17.Africa of the 50-70s of the last century through the lens of Malick Sidibé 18.