Whether it's Kenya's jet setting grannies or Johannesburg's street style battles - Africans have long found their voice in knowing how to dress sharp - as Brighton Photo Biennial's latest exhibition explores.
The Queen of Spades -- Andile Biyana (2014) by Harness Hamese —
Whether it's Kenya's jet setting grannies or Johannesburg's street style battles - Africans have long found their voice in knowing how to dress sharp - as Brighton Photo Biennial's latest exhibition explores.
Courtesy Harness Hamese
The Dandy Lion Project looks at African and diasporans who dress provocatively as dandies.
Calligraphist, London, by Sara Shamsavari —
The Dandy Lion Project looks at African and diasporans who dress provocatively as dandies.
Courtesy Sara Shamsavari
"When I first started curating the exhibition I was really anti including any artists who are not of African descent. So I really wanted to look at dressing up not as a response to racism and discrimination but as a source of pride," says curator Shantrelle Lewis.<br />
The Smarteez , Joburg style battles series (2012) by Daniele Tamagni —
"When I first started curating the exhibition I was really anti including any artists who are not of African descent. So I really wanted to look at dressing up not as a response to racism and discrimination but as a source of pride," says curator Shantrelle Lewis.
Courtesy Daniele Tamagni
The exhibition will showcase around 150 images taken by more than 30 photographers over the past 10 years.
Lebogang from the Smarteez, Joburg style Battles series, by Daniele Tamagni —
The exhibition will showcase around 150 images taken by more than 30 photographers over the past 10 years.
Courtesy Daniele Tamagni
Amongst them is budding South African photographer Harness Hamese.
Give thank to thoughtful hands -- Bafana Mthembu and Andile Biyana of Khumbula (2013) by Harness Hamese —
Amongst them is budding South African photographer Harness Hamese.
Courtesy Harness Hamese
He started photographing South Africa's street styles after meeting with a group of dandy enthusiasts named Khumbula (a Nguni word that means "remember"). <br />
When a Black woman prays -- Andile Biyanaand the Outkasts (2014) by Harness Hamese —
He started photographing South Africa's street styles after meeting with a group of dandy enthusiasts named Khumbula (a Nguni word that means "remember").
Courtesy Harness Hamese
The nostalgic group, like to dress up in vintage, to represent a time in South African history where their parents dressed up as an expression of independence during apartheid.
Khumbula Family Portrait by Harness Hamese —
The nostalgic group, like to dress up in vintage, to represent a time in South African history where their parents dressed up as an expression of independence during apartheid.
Courtesy Harness Hamese
"We started Khumbula because we felt African stories are not told the way they should be told, the interpreters of our stories tell them the way their audience would like to receive them," say the group.
For every strong woman, there are strong men -- Khumbula (2014) by Harness Hamese —
"We started Khumbula because we felt African stories are not told the way they should be told, the interpreters of our stories tell them the way their audience would like to receive them," say the group.
Courtesy Harness Hamese
"It sort of communicates the mindset that even in oppression we can still dress up and look good and be determined as a people to represent ourselves in an appropriate level," says Hamese.
Andile Biyana and Lourens Gebhardt -- In Sync (2014) by Harness Hamese —
"It sort of communicates the mindset that even in oppression we can still dress up and look good and be determined as a people to represent ourselves in an appropriate level," says Hamese.
Courtesy Harness Hamese
"I don't want people to look at my photographs as part of the Dandy Lion project and only look at the clothes but the stories that come with the clothes," says Hamese. <br />
The Outkasts - Sunday (2013) by Harness Hamese —
"I don't want people to look at my photographs as part of the Dandy Lion project and only look at the clothes but the stories that come with the clothes," says Hamese.
Courtesy Harness Hamese
It's about storytelling insists Hamese, "It's not only about the clothes because I don't photograph clothes I photograph people."<br />
Andile Biyana and Lourens Gebhardt -- In Sync (2014) by Harness Hamese —
It's about storytelling insists Hamese, "It's not only about the clothes because I don't photograph clothes I photograph people."
Courtesy Harness Hamese