Accra-based, global art and culture platform, Manju Journal has unveiled its inaugural lists of African creatives over the decade.
The platform which is dedicated to celebrating and highlighting young creative talents through contemporary African fashion, music, photography, and society made the announcement at the end of 2019 amidst raving reviews and mixed reactions.
In a statement shared online, the platform said the selection was based on artists or image-makers “whose body of work put emphasis on African identity and culture”
“Manju is beyond excited to finally share our #CreativeClassof2019 for photography. For our inaugural Creative Class of 2019, we are celebrating artists in and around the continent whose body of work put emphasis on African identity and culture, contemporary African fashion and photography. Stay with us, as we announce our top 16 photographers/image-makers of the decade.” it said.
The list includes several young creatives who are defining the culture through their work. Ghana’s Prince Gyesi and Nigeria’s Stephen Tayo are inaugurated into the list.
Check out the 16 African Creatives who made the cut.
Ruth Ossai Ginika
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#BestofTheDecade Congratulations to Nigerian photographer #RuthOssaiGinika @ruthossaistudio for being selected as one of #Manju’s top 19 African image-makers of the decade. Ruth Ossai grew up in Southeastern Nigeria and is now based in West Yorkshire, UK. She is known for her portrait and studio photography that empowers Nigerian communities by creating narratives with her subjects that celebrate their personal identities. Ossai, who also works in youth development in the UK and across Africa, recently collaborated with filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr on a special project for #Kenzo, and has also shown at LagosPhoto Festival (@lagosphotofestival), Unseen Amsterdam (@unseenplatform) and many more. She also collaborated with fashion designer and recent Central Saint Martins’ graduate Mowalola Ogunlesi (@mowalola) for their exhibition #MyHeartIsClean shown at RedHookLabs (@redhooklabs). Recently, she shot Rihanna (@badgalriri)’s #FENTY (@fenty) Maison collection with a sartorial, portrait style and scenic backdrops reminiscent of the photo booths we found our parents pose in front of at the functions growing up which surely compliments Rihanna's aesthetic for her first collection. Ruth has shot for many publications and brands including BOF, Nataal, Garage Magazine, InStyleMagazine , Nike and many more. #ruthossaiginika #manjujournal #photooftheday #fashion #Nigeria #femalephotographers #africanphotographers #printmagazine
A post shared by Manju (@manjujournal) on Dec 29, 2019 at 3:30am PST
Stephen Tayo
3. Moses Quiquine
4. Durimel
5.Anne Barlinckhoff
6. Mous Lamrabat
7. Wekafore
8. Nana Yaw Oduro
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Next on our best image-makers of the decade and 2019 is young Ghanaian artist and photographer Nana Yaw Oduro who goes by the name the Vintage Mason (@the.vintage.mason). Nana Yaw Oduro started his photographic journey in 2015, and since had successful collective and individual exhibitions in Ghana, China and the US. He captures unique detailed images; and describes his photographic style as bold contemporary, inspired by his feelings and his local environment. His photography truly captures bold statements of colour; boyhood, masculinity, emotions, acceptance and self-awareness. His work has been featured in publications including Vogue Italia, signant, Independent Photo, Dazed, Artsy and many more. Currently, he’s one of the few artists singed to @thursdayschildglobal ; a global platform that partner with the best I represented image makers in the world. #manjujournal #bestof2019 #photography #printmagazine #artists #masculinity #africanphotography #youngartist
A post shared by Manju (@manjujournal) on Jan 8, 2020 at 1:36am PST
9. Daniel Obasi
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Congratulations to lagos-based young Nigerian artist, stylist and creative director Daniel Obasi (@iamdanielobasi) emerging as one of Manju’s best image makers of the decade. As a talented multifaceted visual storyteller, Daniel’s works play around with notions of gender, sexuality and identity and shows a mix of feminine and masculine elements. His work curs across several facet of the entire creative scene, working in film, fashion and music. From shooting short films, Udara & Alien in Town, Styling some major acts including Major Lazer @majorlazer , Odunsi @odunsitheengine , Falana @falanamusic and many more, we believe Daniel’s creative work has put more emphasis on African identity. One of his popular series ,’ The illegal project ‘ is about #homosexuality in Nigeria. Daniel had shots and styled for major publications inclduing Nataal, Oxosi, Vogue, Garage and brands including OrangeCultureNigeria @orangecultureng , Asai @asaitakeaway , Nike @nike etc. Recently, he was included in The New Black Vanguard by Antwaun Sargent (@sirsargent) and Aperture (@aperturefnd) that focus on the world by black photographers and artists. #DanielObasi #manjujournal #photography #fashion #bestof2019 #lagos #printmagazine #artists #stylist #africanphotography
A post shared by Manju (@manjujournal) on Jan 8, 2020 at 3:01am PST
10. Prince Gyasi
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Young Ghanaian artist Prince Gyasi (@princejyesi) is our next image maker and photographer of the decade. Prince photographs the colors, faces and Spirit of Ghana through his vibrant, curated shoots of his hometown. He is self-describes iPhone photographer and artistic vessel; using imagery as his medium to express what he sees/feels. Some of Gyasi’s featured images are part of his BoxedKids (@boxedkids) series; a photographic project turned GoFundMe campaign created by Gyasi and his partner Kukua Eshun (@kuuksss). Apple @apple has repeatedly recognized his work as had Instagram @instagram and he’s now represented by Nil Gallery (@nilgalleryparis) in Paris which has found most of his works at art fairs across the US. One of his recent project for Apple ‘A Great Day in Accra’ gives hip life culture & the torchbearers of the sound their long overdue props featuring some hip life acts including @reggierockstone711, @okyeamekwame, @elrepgh, @1realjoeyb, etc with a mini documentary dictées by Joshua Kissi @joshuakissi. Gyasi has had exhibition with some fairs including @154artfair, @akaa_fair , @pulseartfair and featured in publications including Vogue @vogue, @bbcafrica, @okayafrica, @lofficielusa and many more. #PrinceGyasi #nilgallery #artists #manjujournal #bestof2019 #fashion #art #artexhibition
A post shared by Manju (@manjujournal) on Jan 8, 2020 at 3:37am PST
11.Campbell Addy
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Congratulations to British-Ghanaian photographer, film maker, publisher and model agent Campbell Addy (@campbelladdy) selected as one of Manju’s best image makers of the decade. Campbell Addy’s work is a narrative in nature with a focus on casting under-represented faces. He is the brain behind the publication Nii Journal @niijournal, a biannual arts & culture publication and Nii Agency @niiagency, a modeling agency dedicated to celebrating diversity. Campbell has graced the pages of British Vogue @britishvogue, @dazed, @i_d , @teenvogue, The Wall Street Journal @wsj Financial Times @financialtimesfashion and the first black horographie to shoot Naomi Campbell @naomi in 33years for the Guradian’s @guardian Weekend Supplement. Currently, he’s signed to the agency @clmagency as one of fashion photographer’s rising star with his work exhibited internationally and was selected as a Honouree by Nowness @nowness Awards in 2019. Campbell Addy seeks to use his electrifying photography to examine racial and cultural identity. #CampbellAddy #manjujournal #bestof2019 #photography #blackphotographers #printmagazine #artists #niijournal #masculinity #fashion
A post shared by Manju (@manjujournal) on Jan 8, 2020 at 8:56am PST
12. Joshua Kissi
13. Alice Mann
14. Kyle Weeks
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Congratulations to Namibian artist and photographer Kyle Weeks (@_kyleweeks_) for emerging as one of our best image-maker’s of the decade. Kyle’s body of work crosses genres and portray masculinity and the African body. He captures a new narrative of hope and creativity for African youth. From his wide- acclaimed photo series ‘ Palm Wine Collectors’ , a series he made in 2015 in the Kunene region of Namibia documenting the long-established tradition of tapping the sap of the Makalani palm to make wine. Kyle weeks has worked with quite a number of publications inclduing @dazed, @i_d , @vogueitalia, @m_magazine , Nataal and many more and shoots across #Ghana, #SouthAfrica, #London. In 2019, he was one of the emerging artists for RedHookLabs @redhooklabs annual Labs New Artist III photo exhibition, Vogue Italia’s #photovoguefestival curated by @alessiaglaviano & Chiara Bardelli Nonino @chiaranonino and Unseen Amsterdam @unseenplatform annual exhibition. Kyle always documents what interests and surrounds him as a complex, multilayered reality, thus demystifying any reductive stereotype. #Kyleweeks #manjujournal #vogue #labsnewartists #redhooklabs #Namibia #printmagazine #stereotypes #africanphotography #artists
A post shared by Manju (@manjujournal) on Jan 9, 2020 at 6:40am PST
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