10 Photographers Show Why International Women’s Day Should Be Every Day
In the wake of global protests that continue to disrupt the worldly status quo, the need for photographers from the diaspora to tell their own stories is more urgent than ever before. Deploying Western and non-Black photographers to the global south to capture these images contributes to harmful stereotypes and misrepresentation of communities that myriads of publications champion.
In the words of renowned feminist and journalist Gloria Steinem, "The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist, nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights."
Black Women Photographers is countering the long history of erasure by championing the ethical responsibility to document and amplify photographers from around the globe. By hiring local talent, we get to celebrate the spirit of International Women’s Day all year-round.
Here are ten emerging photographers ready to share their community’s stories.
Maryam Turaki - Abuja, Nigeria
Maryam Turaki is a documentary photographer based in Abuja. Her work is inspired by a passion to explore life and humanity. She is intrigued by people: their pasts, their present, what brought them here, what keeps them going. In looking at others, we see ourselves. In telling their stories, she tells hers.
Esther Sweeney - Nairobi, Kenya
Esther Sweeney is an independent self-taught Kenyan photographer based in Nairobi Kenya. Esther's work is focused on capturing the culture and spirit of Africa and its people and she uses vibrant colors to reflect that.
Teresa Meka - Accra, Ghana
Teresa Meka is a self-taught documentary and commercial photographer based in Accra, Ghana. Teresa works with both art and documentary photography. Her photographs are often humoristic, detail orientated and very personal.
Visual Aesthetix - Centurion, South Africa
Tumi Tsepe, a.k.a Visual Aesthetix is a photographer based in Centurion, South Africa. Her photography style is influenced by haute culture and simplicity; but the main aim of her photography is to evoke emotions when people view her images.
Roxanne Munson - Mexico City, Mexico
Roxanne Munson is a documentary photographer living in Mexico City specializing in capturing moments often taken for granted. Her passion for photography started when she became a mother, and wanting to document my children. Since then, her journey has now evolved into working with individuals and businesses who want to feel seen and valued in front of a lens.
Pamela Tulizo - Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo
Pamela Tulizo started her career as a journalist but now works primarily as a documentary photographer. Her work focuses on social issues and the image of women in her community.
Neema Ngelime - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Neema J. Ngelime is an accomplished visual artist who relies on photography and filmmaking to tell her story. Her creative journey is fueled by a desire to capture various African narratives in their most authentic form.
Esther Ruth Mbabazi - Kampala, Uganda
As a documentary photographer, Esther Mbabazi uses storytelling and photojournalism to address issues in her society. Coming from a humble background, her work explores changing conditions on the African continent, with a focus on the social, physical, and emotional aspects of daily life.
Adriana Parilla - San Juan, Puerto Rico
Adriana Parrilla is a photojournalist and visual storyteller born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her work is an all-encompassing story, which centers on themes of identity construction, race, and resilience.
Eyerusalem Jiregna - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Eyerusalem Jiregna is an emerging photographer and fashion designer based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Informed by her experience in design, she uses photography to document the vibrant everyday realities of the nation's inhabitants. She specializes in evocative and sensitive portraits, which are distinguished by their brilliant multitude of colors and textures.
