Since its launch in 1994 the Encounters of Bamako Biennial

has become the big event on the African photography

scene and a contemporary art must. Organised by the

Malian Ministry of Culture in association with the Institut

Français and with the backing of the European Union,

the Biennial has already brought recognition to a host

of photographers including Seydou Keita, Malick Sidibé,

Samuel Fosso and Santu Mofokeng.

Under artistic directors Michket Krifa and Laura Serani

this 9^th edition, titled "For a Sustainable World",

is testimony to the vitality and creativity of current African

output. In different modes - documentary, journalistic,

metaphorical, fictional - the continent's artists take stock

of the present, spotlight its dangers and identify lines

of resistance for a more livable world.

In addition to the kaleidoscopic view provided by the

Pan-African Exhibition, the Encounters of Bamako 2011

includes monographic and thematic exhibitions

- David Goldblatt, Nii Obodai, George Osodi, Nyaba Léon

Ouedraogo, Philippe Bordas... - together with tributes

to the Tunisian and Egyptian artists of the Arab Spring,

Goddy Leye, the Sindika Dokolo Collection and all those

photographers, curators and institutions committed

to promoting Africa's photographic heritage.