Bamako Photography Biennial (1994)

Bamako Encounters is the oldest international biennial devoted to photography and video from Africa. Through its different editions, the event has progressively caught the attention of several curators, collectors, and commissioners in addition to revealing a handful of African photographers and video artists. Bamako Encounters features exhibits, workshops, debates, and public projection, which serve as a catalyst for photographers from Africa. The biennial is organized around several Bamako cultural centers including the National Library, the National Museum, and the District Museum. The last edition held in 2011 was framed within the theme “For a Sustainable World” in order to investigate how the continent has been affected by a global economy. It featured 500 photographs and 20 videos, including works of established figures such as David Goldblatt, Pieter Hugo, and Jo Ractliffe. The next edition will take place later this year and will be curated by Bisi Silva around the theme “Telling Time”.

Biennale de Lubumbashi (2008)

Picha Encounters is a biennial gathering around exhibition and screenings international photographers and videographers. Picha means “image” in Swahili and is the name of the association established during the hosting of the first edition of the biennial. Picha Encounters offers a place of exchange between professionals and local artist. It organizes workshops for artists training, promotes women artists in the rural area, and provides artist residencies and exhibitions. The places of exhibition are mainly selected to foster the interaction with the population so that the exhibition would go toward the public. Picha Encounters is primarily focused on visual media such as photography, video, and films as well as installation and performance. After two editions, the biennial which was initially slated to take place in 2012 was postponed by a year so as to allow enough time for the required funding and to set up a well-planned schedule of activities. The next edition is planned for the last quarter of this year.

Lagos Photo Festival (2010)

LagosPhoto is an international art festival of photography from Africa organised around a project designed to use art in public spaces as a medium for increasing societal awareness. The festival uses large scale prints displayed throughout the city in order to reclaim public spaces and engage the locals with different stories of Africa. The festival features several events such as indoor and outdoor exhibitions, workshops for professional artists, and panel discussions around a central theme. LagosPhoto aims to establish a community dedicated to the development of contemporary photography in Africa through mentorships and cross-cultural collaborations with local and international artists. The festival is held annually and presents works from established photographers as well as emerging photographers. The last edition featured nearly forty photographers from twenty one countries.

Addis Foto Fest (2010)

Addis Foto Fest is a biannual photography festival hosted in Addis Ababa and directed by Aida Muluneh. The festival presents photographers from around the world in order to foster a dialogue through various events including exhibitions, debates, workshops, and film screenings. With the participation of representatives from the global photography market, the activities of the festival represent an opportunity to expose the participants to the various ways in which images of Africa are produced, negotiated, and marketed. The weeklong festival includes a closed portfolio review, which bring together local emerging photographers, whose works are reviewed by foreign established photographers.

Sources: Biennial Foundation presents an interactive map of different biennials all over the world with a summary for each event.