In a world where the word “sustainability” often gets tossed around like yesterday’s news, it’s easy to forget the profound impact it has on our daily lives and future generations. Enter the artists, the dreamers, and the young visionaries who dare to see beyond the obvious. Their creative expressions serve as a powerful reminder of what’s possible, turning the ordinary into extraordinary with their unique perspectives on urban African challenges.
By using artistic approaches to communicate stories about their cities, they bring the ephemeral or fleeting into being. They capture the complexities that can be challenging to put into words, attempting to make sense of their world. Creative storytelling, through art, photography or film, initiates a conversation or a response from the viewer, fostering an emotional connection that can drive messages home with a clarity and weight that can’t be done with words alone. If art is a depiction of our practices and culture then illuminating them in this way is more, not less, accessible. With an urgent need for narrative shifts around sustainability, tackling the climate crisis and how we define and solve the most pressing issues in our cities, there is much potential in using an artistic or creative approach to better understand what needs to be done and effectively finding ways to do it.
Over the last 3 years, RISE Africa has used photography as a tool to collectively envision the future of African cities. The platform’s annual photography competition, open to creatives and photographers across the continent, promotes grassroots storytelling as a way to excite and encourage residents and decision makers about their cities. The resulting entries contribute to an understanding of Africa that feels relatable, novel and positive – and most importantly, curated from within the continent. A workshop is held during the RISE African Action Festival, to offer city officials, urbanists, decision-makers, private sector, civil society and the photographers themselves a moment of reflection, sense-making and brainstorming inspired by the images.
As part of the festival, photographers from across the continent were invited to submit photographs depicting the everyday possibilities within their cities. There were a wide range of submissions, geographically and in terms of subject matter, and the final shortlist told 12 unique and specific stories about African cities. In “The bright side of the slum communities”, Ismail Odetola tells a story about the dreams and aspirations of youth living in Lagos’ slums (above right). As he says, “Despite the limitations placed on the young people from these communities, their energy never fails to prevail”. The feeling of hope and determination in these photographs juxtaposed within the setting of an urban slum – often depicted as hopeless and despairing – could offer inspiration for decision makers to reconsider how they view, and support, these communities. Similarly, in “The new morgue”, Isaac Gyamfi’s powerful photographs of the funeral rites for a young okada (motorcycle taxi) evocatively capture the day’s emotions in black and white (above right). The expressive style of this series tells a story of grief and resilience, helping to humanise the risks associated with this job. Perhaps this emotional retelling of a story too often reduced to data points could better communicate the urgent need for safer solutions.
Andile Bhala’s series “Seriti” (header image), “…loosely translated as the ‘shadow’ or ‘aura’ that people cast as they go through life, explores the lives of everyday people in search of meaning and opportunities.” He uses photography to depict his life in Johannesburg from his perspective, trying to make sense of the contrasts and contradictions of the city. And on the other side of the continent, Yenyehk Gil Dachomo does something similar in “Everyday people – that’s me, that’s you”, documenting “…the essence of these everyday activities that seem to accelerate time” (right). Both these series seem to be inviting viewers to bear witness to the city, its inhabitants and its activities as they unfold. If we better understand how people are experiencing their cities, maybe we can design solutions that really answer to their lived realities.
If we can start to appreciate the uniqueness of experience, within the larger unit of a city, it can forge a stronger sense of connection and understanding between individuals – perhaps bringing fresh perspectives on familiar challenges, new ways of thinking, and a more nuanced understanding of what is truly needed. As viewers of the virtual exhibition pointed out, you can see yourself in these photographs; their authenticity invites you to imagine your own African city story reflected back at you through these images. “The longer you stare, the more you find”, says shortlisted photographer Ugochukwu Emebiriodo, “…art can exist everywhere”.
Shifting development narratives through artistic approaches is crucial for several reasons. First, it democratises the conversation around sustainability, ensuring that diverse voices and experiences are included. Secondly, by focusing on local initiatives and community-driven projects, creative practices can be a vehicle to highlight the importance of tailored solutions that resonate with the specific needs and contexts of their communities. This localised approach offers a sense of ownership and agency among community members and can be used as a tool for more people centred design.
At the RISE Africa 2024 Action Festival, the session titled “Voices of the Now: Unique Perspectives on Solutions for African Cities,” was a dynamic showcase of youth-led initiatives harnessing artistic approaches to shape the future of African cities. The conversation invited forward-thinking young leaders, including AfriFOODlinks Youth Ambassadors to showcase their artistic approaches to shifting narratives for more sustainable African cities.
Filbert Minja is an emerging filmmaker and storyteller in Arusha, Tanzania who believes strongly in storytelling’s ability to engage audiences, raise awareness, and drive real impact within communities (images below). He crafts compelling narratives that highlight underrepresented groups, amplifying their voices and advocating for cultural and environmental preservation. Filbert champions the creative industry’s potential to foster societal transformation. His current work focuses on conservation, community, and cultural appreciation, weaving these themes into his visual art to create a distinctive and powerful voice for positive change. In his role as AfriFOODlinks youth ambassador to Arusha, he crafts visual stories to amplify the everyday experiences of people in the city’s food system.
A close-up shot of a sack of dried sardines, prominently displayed at Samonge
Market in Arusha.
A woman holds up a handful of ripe mangoes at Samonge Market in Arusha, one of Tanzania’s abundant fruits.
A man stands beside his wooden wheelbarrow loaded with grapes and apples.
AfriFOODlinks youth ambassador, Amina Pagnaa Awudu from Tamale, Ghana, emphasises the preservation and promotion of indigenous foods through creative culinary arts and a curated experience. By showcasing traditional dishes, Amina draws attention to the potential loss of important foods such as indigenous beans and seeds, advocating for their revival to ensure cultural and nutritional diversity. Her artistic approach not only highlights sustainability issues but also celebrates cultural heritage.
Amina Pagnaa at her restaurant
In the bustling inner city of Harare, Zimbabwe, Joel Chandauka documents the ‘resurrection’ of textile waste into valuable items of clothing through an immersive 360 video experience. The video takes the viewer on a journey into the global textile crisis, which stems from the import of second hand clothes from Western countries into Zimbabwe. Jackson Chifamba (JaXX) buys and restores these discarded clothes. Together they created a virtual showroom that holds some of JaXX’s signature garments digitally re-made by Joel to be showcased in the virtual space. Their main focus: to raise awareness about the impact of the importation of second hand clothes in African cities.
Organising the important 2nd hand clothes
Mbare market
JaXX reworking garments in his studio
The Resurrection Showroom
3D displays of JaXX’s reworked garments.
The creative interventions and stories shared above, illustrate how artistic approaches can address complex sustainability challenges effectively. They ultimately demonstrate how storytelling, curiosity, and collaboration are not just tools but essential ingredients in the recipe for sustainable solutions in African cities. By highlighting local solutions, everyday actions, individual experiences of the city and giving voice to often overlooked community members, they bring fresh, nuanced perspectives and innovative approaches to the forefront, uncovering hidden potential. As we continue to navigate our evolving urban landscapes, the imaginative and inclusive strategies that will pave the way for more resilient and vibrant African cities.