The interminable month of January is ending, bringing February to a close and kicking off the festivities of Black History Month. From February 1 to March 1, black culture from all diasporas will be in the spotlight.
This practice dates back to 1926, in the United States. Born to formerly enslaved parents, historian Carter G. Woodson is the second African-American man to receive a doctorate from Harvard University. Heading the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, he proposed creating a week devoted to the history of black communities. In 1960, the festivities were extended to a full month. In 1976, Black History Month was recognized by the U.S. government.
As a photography enthusiast, I'd like to honor two black photographers I discovered during a visit to 180 Studios in London, where their work was exhibited.
Gabriel Moses
Aged 24, Gabriel Moses has an oscar worthy portfolio featuring the crème de la crème, having worked with Dior, Burberry, Adidas, Apple, Manchester United… He has built up a substantial client base over the years.
Having started out as a self-taught photographer and videographer, his career took off at the age of 18 when he directed an ad for Nike, at 22 he became the youngest photographer to shoot the rapper Pa Salieu for the cover of Dazed magazine.
Much of his Nigerian cultural heritage is highlighted in his work in the form of family photographs, as are the women. Gabriel Moses pays homage to the women in his entourage who introduced him to the world of fashion and art.
Referring to Malian photographer Malick Sidibé as his inspiration, his work is characterized by textured effects and deep, dark tones, his models embody characters and his creations tell stories.
His first solo show, Regina 'A salute to women', took place last year at 180 Studios in London, and featured 50 of his creations, including shorts films.
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Campbell Addy
Campbell Addy is a British-Ghanaian artist and photographer based in London. He draws inspiration from his culturally diverse upbringing, his work embraces distinctive narratives and genuine emotions, emphasizing unique casting choices that showcase underrepresented faces.
Addy established Nii Journal, a platform that embodies the representation he envisioned in shoots with friends and peers. Additionally, he founded Nii Agency, where he recruited diverse faces for casting and modeling, crafted to question conventional notions of beauty, it presented an alternative viewpoint on the definition of beauty and style within our contemporary fashion industry.
Since then the 29-years-old creative has worked for leading titles with artists as models such as Tyler The creator, FKA Twigs, Bukayo Saka, Beyonce ... and was chosen by Edward Enninful to capture his Time magazine cover.