Photography Books and Liberation Movements in Africa

Somewhere between a political manifesto and an aesthetic object, the photography books produced around the 1970s in Portuguese-speaking African countries about—and for—the independence movements offer a unique reflection on the role and power of the photographic image. 

A reflection on contemporary uses of photographs produced in colonial or anticolonial contexts; exhibiting, assembling, and deconstructing images from the past to give them “new life” in the context of the anticolonial archive. This project aims to trace the history of this body of work through an exhibition, talks, and films.

Little known and rarely studied, this body of forgotten works is significant not only for its historical value but also for its visual and graphic appeal. Falling somewhere between activist documents and sophisticated aesthetic objects, these works offer a unique perspective on the power of the photographic image. In the specific case of Portuguese-speaking African countries, these photography books enabled various movements to document and disseminate the complex reality of the ongoing liberation struggles and decolonization processes.