“Mali gunmen seize French national”, “Guinea turmoil threatens lucrative mining deal”, “Dumped computers cause toxic concerns in Ghana”, “ANC supporters warn of blood in the streets”, “The Niger Delta: The curse of the black gold”… another normal day in Africa, viewed from the Western Media. Africa suffers from a ‘deficit of image’: Africa sees the West through the glossy images of Hollywood movies.  The West sees Africa through an endless cycle of depressing headlines.

There is no denying that Africa faces many issues, but all the positives coming from the continent are never reported on. This Afro-pessimism hides many encouraging news. African economies grow at rates far higher than Western ones, boosted by high commodity prices. Many countries (France, the UK, but also the United States, India, China and others) have a renewed interest for these lands.  Massive infrastructure projects currently take place, making Africa a new land of opportunities.

More importantly, through my many journeys to Africa, I have been able to witness first hand the quality of life enjoyed by some on the continent: an African ‘middle class’ is emerging.  Men and women, who have made the choice to live, work and be successful on their continent.  I have also met those who have decided to return to Africa after spells in the West.  They have decided to go back for the better quality of life, the family values, the weather…

I have decided to fight this ‘deficit of image’ and to document the emergence of this African middle class.  From the beauty of the Bay of Algiers to the madness of Douala streets, from the astonishing islands of Cape Verde or Sao Tome and Principe to the sand dunes of Mauritania, from loud music in Dakar night clubs to classy restaurants in Libreville, ‘The Other Africa’ is a photographic project aiming at promoting this vision of the continent.  The project is articulated around three main themes:  portraits of Africans issued from this middle class but also portraits of radio DJs and nocturnal cityscapes.

My ultimate aim is to visit all 54 countries in Africa (including Somaliland), in order to create an exhaustive body of work following these three themes and to produce a photographic exhibition of 54 images.  The first exhibition of the work in development has just ended in Leicester (UK) and will be touring Europe and Africa.

Antoine, Tennis Instructor, Club Saoti, Libreville,Gabon

Germain, Car Dealer, SOCADA, Yaounde, Cameroon

Gerson, Reporter, Cameraman and Editor, TVS, Sao Tome

Khawmany-Nouakchott, Mauritania

Elisabeth, Air Hostess, TACV, Cape Verde

Witten by Philippe Sibelly

All updates and images on www.theotherafrica.eu

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