Taking photography to women
Muholi gives lens power to females
Renowned photographer and visual activist Zanele Muholi has established a mobile photography academy to empower young black women.
The Mobile School of Photography focuses on empowering the girl child and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Recently, young women of different ages participated in her training that started in December where they learnt more about the art of telling a story through the lens. Participants graduated last Saturday and were awarded certificates.
The main aim is to encourage young girls and women to document and tell their stories.
“The participants were taught how to use the camera and tell a story through that. This is an attempt to encourage them to document their history and what is happening in South Africa.”
They were further addressed by seasoned black photographers on the history of black photography in SA.
Muholi says the reason she started a mobile academy is because she wants to take photography to the people.
“The sessions with participants included learning how to compile biographies and working in groups. The plan is to encourage young people to tell different stories and speak through their individual artistic works.”
Muholi, who was named by France as its chevalier of Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, a prestigious award that recognises important people in the arts, believes that there is a lot to be done in terms of setting up and planning for the Mobile School of Photography.
She says she will travel to different places next month to equip more young black females with practical skills in photography.
The Mobile School of Photography is a recent project under the Photo Experience project founded in 2004 that has been training young black female photographers nationally and internationally.
In December she launched her book Somnyama Ngonyama/Hail the Dark Lioness that comprises 100 self-portraits. It won Book Publisher of the Year at the 2018 Lucie Awards.