On September 17, 2017, I took an exciting adventure into the many crates filled with breathtaking stories captured by determined, phenomenal photographers. A crate I favored was Women Photograph & United Photo Industries’s “INSIDER/OUTSIDER” exhibit that was hosted by photographer, Cassandra Giraldo.
Giraldo is a representative for Women Photograph; its mission is to change the gender perceptions of the photojournalism community and promote diversity in all aspects.
Giraldo told me that “photos are part of a dialogue.” Photographers transition from outsiders to insiders through bonding with the people they’re documenting. Hence, the exhibit’s title “INSIDER/OUTSIDER.”
Another crate capturing my interest was Sylvain Cherkaoui’s 5 Women for 5 Countries exhibit.
Cherkaoui documented the stories of 5 powerful women from Senegal, Gineua, Niger, Nigeria, and Liberia.
Safia Ibrahim of Zinder, Niger fights against child marriages despite how normalized that is in Niger. She doesn’t want children to encounter that experience like she had, thus she helps other women in similar predicaments through creating workshops and providing them education.
Jeanette Kebe Lamah of Koula, Guinea was impeccable in recruiting a workforce of women to help promote peace and profitable income when there was war occurring in her village.
Jumama Varmah of Goernodean, Liberia is 32 with 8 children. She decided to return to school, and just finished 12th grade. She is also fighting against corporations to keep her land.
I met Maah Koudia Keita of Dakar, Senegal who plays for a famous band in Senegal with her brothers. She is also hugely apart of the association, Care Albinos, which supports the minority groups of African albinos.
Uduak Isong Oguamanam of Lagos, Nigeria is a Nollywood self-made writer and producer that advocates for feminism. She wants her daughter to follow her passion and choose whatever profession she wants without adhering to society’s expectations.