Following Mali’s independence in 1960, the country and its culture underwent huge change. There to capture it was Malick Sidibé, ‘the eye of Bamako’, whose documentary photography style brought the city and its youth culture to a new audience. Shot throughout the 1960s and 1970s, his new London exhibition presents a range of scenes of young Malian life in and around its capital city, Bamako. From seaside excursions to twist-heavy weddings, Sidibé was there to capture the youth trends that were shaping the country’s new identity.
One of the first photographers to document the shifting atmosphere of Bamako, with stylish youth at the heart of everything, Sidibé’s black and white images leave a grand legacy.
The late Malick Sidibé’s first major UK show The Eye of Modern Mali runs at Somerset House until 15 January 2017.
