Of Soul and Joy Photography Project to celebrate its Seventh anniversary with youth photography festival
JOBURG – This year marks Of Soul and Joy’s seventh year anniversary of narrating African stories through the lens of young photographers.
The Of Soul and Joy photography project (OSJ) is launching the third edition of its photo festival on 26 October at Buhlebuzile secondary school in Thokoza.
The festival is organised in partnership with the Rubis Mécénat cultural fund and Easigas. Launched in 2012, the OSJ project provides a platform for young people in and around Johannesburg to learn photography skills.
This year’s programme will exhibit works created by former and current Of Soul and Joy students, the festival will also welcome musicians and performers. An exciting addition to the line-up includes talks and a panel discussion moderated by arts organiser Molemo Moiloa with South African photographers, Andrew Shabangu, Jabulani Dhlamini, independent curator and founder of PHOTO, John Fleetwood and other emerging creatives. Guests can also look forward to an interactive photo booth and have their family or personal portraits taken by OSJ photographers.
In honour of South Africa’s 25 years of democracy, new images to be exhibited include a series of works developed under the theme Khumalo Street, post 1994. During the 1990’s this notorious street in Thokoza was a no-go area due to the political violence that claimed lives and displaced many families.
“Young people have a responsibility to know and understand their history and, in the process, use creative platforms to tell their stories boldly. The works created by the Of Soul and Joy students seek to reflect on and capture a Khumalo Street that is free from political violence but at the same time interrogate its current state,” said project manager and mentor, Jabulani Dhlamini.
Additional works to be showcased include a collection of images from the Place of Peace 2018 exhibition with works by 2012 Alumni, Tshepiso Mazibuko, Lindokuhle Sobekwa and Sibusiso Bheka.
“2019 marks Of Soul and Joy ‘s seventh year anniversary of narrating African stories through the lens of young photographers and we will continue to develop emerging photographers, encourage self-expression and support creative collaborations,” Dhlamini said.
