Imagine the World with Boniface Mwangi

Date: 17th - 21st September 2014
Charges: Ksh1000

About Boniface Mwangi

Boniface is the founder of Pawa254, a collaborative hub for journalists, artists and activists with an aim to find innovative ways of achieving social change. Pawa254 is the first collaborative space in Africa bring together established and aspiring photographers, cartoonists, animators, creative designers, video & filmmakers, as well as entrepreneurs and activists, to work, learn, and share in an environment that inspires creativity.

Boniface Mwangi wins Prince Claus Award

Kenya’s outspoken photojournalist-cum-blogger Boniface Mwangi has become the youngest ever laureate recipient of the prestigious Prince Claus Award.

Mwangi was among 11 outstanding individuals named on Wednesday, 5 September at the Prince Claus Foundation’s headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

According to Christa Meindersma, the Foundation’s Director, Mwangi was selected, “because his provocative photography deals with social injustices and he seeks dialogue through cultural means.”  

The 29-year-old social activist work  is currently on display at the Hague in an exhibition called ‘The Price of Tribal Politics’ and will run until the 18^th of October 2012.

When just 24 years old, the defiant self-taught photojournalist captured the striking images of Kenya’s 2007-2008 Post Election Violence. While Kenyan publisher’s refused to publish his work, his photos appeared in prestigious publications, such as those of The New York Times, The Guardian and the International Herald Tribune.

A few weeks ago, Mwangi who is also the director of Picha Mtaani was in the media glare for the 'Mavultures' Graffiti campaign that adorn city walls with vulture-caricatures of Kenya's top politicians feeding on hapless Kenyans.  

Each Laureate will receive a principal cash reward of 100,000 Euros from the Dutch Royal Family as well as 25,000 Euros from their respective country’s Dutch Ambassadors.  

The other Recipient of the Award include:-

J        Sami Gharbia – cyber activist from Tunisia

J        Maxamed Warsame – poet from Somalia

J        Habiba Djahine – writer and film maker from Algeria

J        Yassin al Haj Saleh – writer from Syria

J        Teresa Margolles –  visual artist from Mexico

J        Widad Kawar – collector from Jordan

J        Phare Ponleu Seipak –  organizer from Cambodia

J        Ian Randle – publisher from Jamaica

J        Maung Thura – comedian from Myanmar

For Boniface Mwangi profile visit http://www.bonifacemwangi.com/bonnie/  

Hongera Mwangi!

Photojournalist: Mohammed ‘Mo’ Amin MBE

In the wake of blossoming Kenyan photojournalists like Michael Muite and Boniface Mwangi [the first Kenyan to be named CNN Africa Photojournalist of the year (2008)], one man left an indelible mark in the world of photojournalism. Mo paved way for this form of journalism in the country having been a great TV news cameraman and his coverage of the Ethiopian Famine along with BBC reporter, Michael Buerk.

Courtesy of Mohammed Amin Foundation

Born on 29 August 1943 in Eastleigh, Nairobi; Mo will always be remembered as the most decorated news cameraman of all time. Incredibly, at age 13 he was contributing for the then Tanganyika Standard newspaper and covering the East African Safari Rally. A few years later, his work was featuring in international newspapers that include the likes of Reuters, BBC, and Visnews.