ARU sharpens the focus on African photography
Bakashimika is the only international photographic festival in southern Africa
A photograph by Patrick Chilaisha, which will be on display in Lusaka next month
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is playing a role in establishing Zambia’s first-ever international photographic festival, which aims to give a platform to African photography within the continent.
The first Bakashimika International Photography Festival, taking place in the capital Lusaka between 12-18 June, is currently the only international photography festival in southern Africa.
Bakashimika will showcase bold, innovative work that reflects contemporary African narratives; spotlighting both emerging and established photographers from Zambia and neighbouring countries.
With 20 exhibitions and more than 40 photographers from Angola, Congo, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and South Africa, as well as Zambia, the festival will celebrate photography as a powerful tool for storytelling, cultural expression, and connection.
Bakashimika is being supported through Anglia Ruskin University’s QR impact planning funding, recognising the festival’s potential to shift the creative and cultural landscape in the region.
Dr Kerstin Hacker from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) has been researching visual self-governance in Zambia since 2008 and has collaborated with Geoffrey Phiri, former Chairperson of the Zambian National Visual Arts Council, to organise exhibitions and workshops for emerging photographers in the country since 2016.
“Currently there are no international networking opportunities for photographers and lens-based artists in southern Africa, let alone Zambia itself. This festival is about creating space for southern African stories, promoting south-to-south engagement, achieving global visibility, and nurturing the next generation of African photographers.
“The festival will celebrate indigenous African visual storytelling and spark a new wave of creative talent and visual self-governance in Zambia. Bakashimika also aims to be a meeting place for Zambian, southern African and international photographers, educators and industry experts.”
Dr Hacker, Senior Lecturer in Photography at ARUAlongside Dr Kerstin Hacker and Geoffrey Phiri, the festival is organised by Edith Chiliboy, the artistic director and a leading voice in Zambia’s photography scene, and Patrick Chilaisha, operational director of Bakashimika, who is shaping the festival’s digital presence.
The week-long celebration of lens-based art begins on 12 June and will include exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, screenings, and portfolio reviews. For further information, visit https://bakashimika.com