ANTONY KAMINJU

“Africa has been documented for decades. The imagery is of war and hunger. as an African photographer I have an obligation. To tell stories as they are. our own stories. The story is not always what the mainstream media see’s as important. There may be tears of agony but there are tears of joy. Documenting these elusive moments when our brothers and sisters cry because of joy fascinates me. To me that is a great moment. one that needs to be documented.”

Antony Kaminju, born June 1972 is a photographer from Nairobi, Kenya, but is now based in Johannesburg as an independent photographer. He lectures part time at Witwatersrand University in the Journalism department. previously, he worked as a news photographer in Nairobi with the Nation Newspaper of which he was the photo Editor from 2000 to 2005. In South Africa he has freelanced with the sunday Times and from time to time takes up other assignments from Reuters News agency in Johannesburg. He now finds more satisfaction in developing photo stories at his own pace. It gives him time to understand and engage with the subject on a deeper level rather than just snapping and walking away. He has been published in Jean afrique, bBC focus in Africa magazine, sawubona in-flight magazine, mail & Guardian, sunday Times, bBC online and Irin News online among others. He has exhibited his work in Europe and Africa. His work is also part of the agence françoise de Development in (AFD) france and the Wedge Gallery in Toronto, Canada.

Soccer Fans

These are just a few of the soccer fans that I have been following and documenting. I was struck by the zeal and spirit that they show for their clubs. Like many soccer followers I have always seen them for a few seconds on TV blowing vuvuzelas. but after attending a soccer match at the orlando stadium in November 2009 for soweto Derby it brought me closer to the real world of soccer fans.

I noticed quite a number of them carrying watermelons, giant loafs of bread, telephone sets, cabbage, giant dolls and many wearing all kind of different masks. When one team scores or almost scores that is when their paraphernalia comes into play. In the midst of frenzy and ecstatic cacophony of different sounds, a fan of the winning team will eat the cabbage or the water melon or take a big bite from the giant bread. The act is to send a message to the competing team that ‘we shall eat you up.’ In one recent match there was a group of young men who brought along a boiled head of a sheep. They went on to enjoy the meat from now and then. Every prop that the fan brings to the stadium has its meaning and a time for use. Tracking the supporters back to their homes indicates that their support is real. That is the life they live. many of them have been supporting their clubs since childhood and the patriotism is being passed on to the younger generations at home.

www.pmi-ea.com

Works

Selected Exhibitions & Projects

EXHIBITIONS

Halakasha photo exhibition about South Africa soccer fans at the standard bank Gallery		2010
Landuma _ photo Exhibition about South Africa soccer fans in Rotterdam, Holland		2010
Boarders exhibition at the Johannesburg art Gallery		2010
Selected as one of the African photographers to exhibit at the bamako biennale - November 2009		2009
“Back and forth” a group photo exhibition highlighting cross-border traders, market photo Workshop, South Africa.		2005
Resident artist at fonty’s academy. Later exhibited at festival mundial Holland		2004
Two-week photographic Workshop Click art, Singapore		2003
Curator “Through my Eyes” french Cultural Centre Nairobi.		1998
Bamako mali, 3rd African photo festival, Kenya Representative.		1998
French Cultural Centre, Joint photography Exhibition Kenya		1995

 

AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Adobe photo of the year award: picture awarded from a series of photographs illustrating the lifestyle of South African Youth.		2008
CNN photographic award, Runners-up, Africa		2005
World press photo photographic Tutor Uganda		2002/03
Introduced Digital photography – trained photographers in use of digital cameras, downloading and uploading pictures		2001
Human Rights award for photojournalism, award by Netherlands Embassy, Kenya.		1999
Still photographer for “Forgotten” feature film filmed in Kenya and Tanzania		1998
Still photographer for “Baisikol” an m-NET film,		1997
Directed and researched on short documentary films, UNEP audio Visual Unit		1995
UNESCO pan African Children’s book fair Exhibit, art Judge		1994/95
Chairperson of photography Club Kenya polytechnic		1993

 

COLLECTORS

The Wedge Gallery- Toronto, Canada
AFD- agence france De Development –Permanent collection

PUBLISHED

Times London, Daily mail, Des spiegel, bBC focus on Africa magazine, sunday Times (SA) mail and Guardian (SA) Daily Nation (Kenya) online Websites (UNEP, AMREF), Washington post, Vanity fair