Homage a Sidibe

After years of instability, Cote d’Ivoire is going through a renaissance. Once known as the Paris of Africa, the country is now again experiencing significant growth and is touted as one of the top five most dynamic economies in the world.

Homage a Sidibe reflects this moment in Ivorian history though the sense of fashion and personalities of the “Abidjanais”. The project brings to life, through the portrayal of the locals of Abidjan themselves, a sense of hope, pride and confidence.

This project was inspired by the work of the Malian photographer, Malick Sidibe. Sidibe’s black and white studio photographs are famous for their exuberant portrayal of popular culture in 1970s Bamako. Dignity, joy and pride emanate through his image and he is quoted as saying, “I don’t like sadness”.