Recent events

Photographer Angèle Etoundi Essamba from Cameroon is exhibiting at Celtel Headquarters from 9 January to 2 February 2007

“This is my Africa”

“Show your proud, show your strength: that’s what I always tell the women when I photograph them. My photos are about Africa and its people, mostly women. Black women. I cherish their inner and outer beauty, strength and pride.”

Angèle Etoundi Essamba is a successful photographer from Cameroon who has been living in the Netherlands for over twenty years. From her very first pictures her main topic has been black African women. More often black and white pictures, her work is expressive, intimate, full of contrast and surprising compositions. She has exhibited in over 20 countries. During January, Celtel’s headquarters is hosting some of her photographs.

“When starting photography I soon understood that I had my own story to tell.” She was fed up with both the exotic and colonial images of Africa in the West. Poverty and suppressed women, to name just a few. “But that’s not how I only experience Africa!”

“This is my Africa,” Angèle points at her pictures scattered around her studio, “I want to show the world another image of Africa, and arouse curiosity for other cultures and people. Moreover, I want to offer Africans a positive self image.”

For Angèle it is special to exhibit at Celtel. “Celtel connects millions of people throughout Africa by telecommunications, but also helps communities by projects concerning art and culture. It’s important to give more visibility to African artists. The continent is bursting with many talented artists, unknown in the West and also often to its own people. Art is not a luxury, but an important medium through which a society can express itself.”

Nana Jongerden

Contact:
Angèle Etoundi Essamba
Tel : 00-31-20 -463 21 59
E-mail:essamba@planet.nl
Website:www.essamba-art.com

Manu Dibango visited Celtel International in Amsterdam

In December, Cameroonian musician Manu Dibango was invited by Celtel International to perform during the Annual end of year party. Before the big night, he came to Celtel headquarters in Amsterdam to open the newly renamed Manu Dibango boardroom. In a very fun-filled atmosphere, Manu played a few melodies on his saxophone and posed for photos with the different staff members before unveiling the new name of the boardroom. Celtel, which sponsors numerous music and cultural activities in Africa, is now naming its boardrooms after African icons.