Vila Olimpica, Maputo, Mozambique. From Africa is a Great Country. Jens Assur, 2012.
On April 11th, I’m in Stockholm as one of four keynote speakers at the launch of Africa is a Great Country, a photography exhibition by Jens Assur, taking place at Liljevalchs. I’ll be speaking alongside Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Richard Dowden and Hans Rosling and my speech is titled “Images of African women“.
Africa is a Great Country is about seeing Africa from alternative perspectives and challenging stereotypical images of Africa in the mainstream. Assur, who is one of Sweden’s most prominent and respected photographers and filmmakers, says, “We are constantly fed with images of how Africa is dying. I want to show how Africa lives.”
In order to do this, he has visited twelve African metropoles resulting in 40 super sized images (2.5 x 3.5 meter) depicting, for instance, hyper urbanisation; a rising middle class; mind blowing architecture, infrastructure and development of some of the largest urban and cosmopolitan areas. “The large format camera’s exceptional precision and scope draws the audience into each image, allowing them stand on the street corner in Dar es Salaam, step into the newly built suburbs of Kigali and take a ride at the amusement park in Gaborone.”
Africa is a Great Country opens 13 April at Liljevalchs in Stockholm and will later tour within Sweden and Africa during 2013-2014.
Will I see you there?
“Africa is a Great Country”??? Really? You’d think the artist would use such a platform to educate/remind the ignorant that Africa is a great CONTINENT, not country. Like many Africans in the diaspora, this a huge pet peeve for me and I’m so surprised that you Minna had nothing to say about this transgression.
It is meant to be ironic. An ironic wink at the ignorance of Europeans and others which see Africa more or less like a country.
Yes, you will see me there 🙂 Looking forward to listening to you. Welcome to Sweden!
amazing work. i look forward to seeing it
IGNORANT …