In Cameroon, A New Platform for Emerging Photographers

Max Mbakop, from the BMX series, 2016. Courtesy the artist and YaPhoto

Yvon Ngassam, from the Bandjoun series, 2017. Courtesy the artist and YaPhoto

Steve Mvondo, from the series Crown of Beauty, 2016. Courtesy the artist and YaPhoto

Romuald Dikoume, Untitled, 2017. Courtesy the artist and YaPhoto

Blaise Djilo, Feou Kake, 2012–2016. Courtesy the artist and YaPhoto

YaPhoto (Yaoundé Photo Network) is a new platform for photographers and lens-based artists in Cameroon. Launched in 2016 in Yaoundé by two Cameroonians, Christine Eyene and Landry Mbassi, the platform spotlights emerging photographers and exhibits their work both locally and internationally, starting with Tokyo in August 2017. “The idea of YaPhoto is to show what photographers are doing in and outside of Cameroon, and to provide a space for photographers to talk about their work,” Eyene said.

Earlier this summer, AMET (Elsa M’bala) sat down with Eyene and Mbassi to hear about the story behind this dynamic new collaboration. Listen to their conversation below.

Christine Eyene, an art historian, critic, and curator, is a Research Fellow in Contemporary Art at University of Central Lancashire. Landry Mbassi is a visual artist and curator based in Yaoundé. AMET (Elsa M’bala) is an artist, musician, and performer based in Berlin and Yaoundé.

This feature is part of a series produced in collaboration with Contemporary And (C&) – Platform for International Art from African Perspectives.

Read more from Aperture Issue 227, “Platform Africa,” or subscribe to Aperture and never miss an issue.

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