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8th Bamako Meetings – African Photography Biennal

At the “8th Bamako Meetings – African Photography Biennal”, Mohamed Abdoulaye Diop, Director of Bolloré Africa Logistics in Mali, was honored to award the Young Talent Prize to Baudouin Mouanda, a rising star in the emerging world of African photography.

The Young Talent Prize aims at encouraging the creative work of this young photographer via a scholarship and support for distributing his work. Bolloré Africa Logistics, a leading logistics operator with an unrivalled pan-African network, would like to make this prize a platform for maximizing exposure for young African photographers while providing a further boost to contacts and exchanges between people.

The panel of judges chaired by Malick Sidibé, the famous photographer from Mali, awarded the prize for Baudouin Mouanda’s “balanced and compassionate work” and “strong and vibrant” style. This young Congolese national born in Brazzaville stood out on the subject of “borders” for his work entitled “After-effects of the Brazzaville war”. Fascinated by issues affecting society, from the impact of war to general customs and habits, Baudouin Mouanda conveys the “desire to never again experience this sad period in Congolese history” with highly developed sensitivity based on a series of black and white photographs.

At the conference, Baudouin Mouanda also presented a monograph on African “sape”, a particular style of clothes which defines African dandys while embodying a certain ostentatious fashion taken to extremes. Mouanda focuses on these unusual personalities who create a “border”.

Mohamed Abdoulaye Diop, Director of Bolloré Africa Logistics in Mali, said: “I am proud that Bolloré Africa Logistics backs your artistic career and that you were selected to be our “torch bearer”. It is very important for younger generations to understand that African culture is a powerful reflection of its modern progress and that they are at the heart of the global spread of our art. Photography has the power of building bonds between people across borders; and you are developing a more human future through your photographic work”.

Firmly rooted in Africa through its history, locations, buoyant economic health and people,Bolloré Africa Logistics considers that African culture is part of its very identity. A key player in promoting the circulation of goods and people within Africa – as well as to and from Africa – it also plans to encourage the spread of African culture and creativity. As such Bolloré Africa Logistics would like to participate in highlighting African culture by supporting this year’s “8th Bamako Meetings – African Photography Biennal”, which helps to boost African creativity.

Press contacts:

DGM Conseil

Michel Calzaroni
m.calza@dgm-conseil.fr
+33 1 40 70 11 89

Euro RSCG C&O

Paul Michon
paul.michon@eurorscg.fr
+33 1 58 47 95 18

Agathe Coustaux
agathe.coustaux@eurorscg.fr
+33 1 58 47 95 35