Quai de la Photo, the cultural venue (and restaurant, and bar, with Sein boat tours also available) has a new exhibition on offer – Un autre Mali dans un autre monde (meaning, more or less A Different Mali in a Different World) – showing the legacy, evolution, richness and daring of Malian photography, with over 60 photos from 14 artists rarely shown in France.

By the way, the exhibition is free, and it’s not far from our hotels!

Françoise Huguier founded the Bamako Encounters in 1994 and Seydou Camara is a tutor at and founder of the Yamarou training centre in Bamako. Together, they are behind this new exhibition of Malian photography, both past and future, showing its diversity and strength.

Their writings are to be found throughout the exhibition, as well as audio recordings of them giving further information about their experiences and points of view.

For instance, you’ll learn that it was completely by chance that Françoise Huguier, who was sent to Mali in 1982 to take pictures of Salif Keita and Mory Kanté for the magazine Rock & Folk, met the great photographer Malick Sidibé; Huguie’s camera needed a repair, and Sidibé was working at the store/workshop in question.

There are, of course, many other talented photographers to discover in the exhibition, with many names you may not be familiar with. Although in French, free guided visits are on offer every day at 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 4.30pm and 6.30pm to help you learn more.

Other related events are also being organised.

The public opening party is on 6th March, starting at 6pm, with two mini-concerts (at 6.30pm and 8.30pm) from guitarist and composer Mama Sissoko and his musicians, followed by and Afro House DJ set.

And over the course of the 3-month exhibition there are also:

— free workshops at the weekend for kids aged 5-10, and

— a ‘Portfolio Afterwork’ session with Françoise Huguier on 26th March, a chance for you to present your work and get her professional feedback.

You may also like to know the Huguier’s groundbreaking 1990 book Sur les traces de l’Afrique fantôme (200 photos, 240 pages, 45€) is still available from her publisher here.

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The exhibition Un autre Mali dans un autre monde (A Different Mali in a Different World) is at Quai de la Photo (here) from 7th March – 1st June 2025

Open Wednesday-Sunday, midday-midnight

Admission: free!

Free guided visits in French, Wednesday-Sunday at 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 4.30pm and 6.30pm

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