Zambia’s Photography Renaissance Shines with ‘Bakashimika’ Showcase at Xposure 2025

Photo : Sharjah Govt Media Bureau

For many years, photography in Zambia was restricted due to historical and social barriers. But today, a new movement is changing that. At the 9th International Photography Festival (Xposure 2025) in Sharjah, a powerful discussion took place about how Zambian photographers are reclaiming their stories and shaping a new future for visual storytelling in the country and across Southern Africa.

A New Beginning: The Birth of Bakashimika

One of the key highlights of Xposure 2025 was the introduction of Bakashimika, a groundbreaking photography movement from Zambia. The name Bakashimika, which means “they will tell stories in the future” in the Bemba language, represents a fresh approach to storytelling by Zambian photographers.

A special panel discussion at the festival featured Zambian photographers Geoffrey Phiri, Patrick Chilaisha, and Edith Chiliboy, moderated by Dr. Kerstin Hacker, an academic and photographer known for challenging stereotypes. The panel explored the history of photography in Zambia, the struggles photographers have faced, and how Bakashimika is paving the way for a new generation of storytellers.

Breaking Free from the Past

Dr. Hacker began the discussion by shedding light on Zambia’s past restrictions on photography. She explained that up until the early 1990s, photography was highly controlled. “If a Zambian African had a camera, they would hide it because they didn’t want the government to find out. The only people allowed to have cameras legally were photojournalists, studio photographers, or white people,” she said.

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This fear extended to society, making people suspicious of photographers. Geoffrey Phiri explained how this affected the creative industry. “The system wouldn’t allow you to freely photograph people or places. Even the subjects became uncomfortable, and that connection between photographer and subject was lost,” he said.

But times are changing. Phiri and Chilaisha, co-founders of the Bakashimika International Photography Festival, alongside Chiliboy, are determined to rewrite this narrative. The festival, set to launch in Zambia in June, aims to give photographers from Southern Africa a platform to tell stories from their own perspective.

Reclaiming the African Narrative

For a long time, Zambia’s image was shaped by foreign photographers. NGOs, Western media, and journalists mostly captured Zambia in times of crisis, such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Chiliboy explained the impact this had on how Zambians saw photography. “There was always a negative feeling about photography because Westerners would come, take photos, and people feared their images were being sold. The stories about them weren’t accurate. Their identity and reality were often misrepresented,” she said.

Now, Bakashimika is giving Zambians the power to tell their own stories. “Through Bakashimika, we want to show the world a different side of Zambia—stories told by us, for us. Now people will see Zambia from our own perspective,” Chiliboy added.

More Than Just a Festival

Chilaisha shared how the movement is also helping photographers go beyond commercial work. “Many photographers in Zambia rely on commercial jobs like weddings to make a living. We created this platform so they can explore their artistry freely. Many of them were part of the Stories of Kalingalinga workshops, and they wanted a space where they could express themselves through photography,” he said.

Phiri emphasized that Bakashimika is not just about Zambia—it is about uplifting the entire Southern African region. “This isn’t just a festival; it’s a movement. It’s about bringing photographers together, helping them grow professionally, and creating a space for critical conversations about photography, storytelling, and cultural preservation,” he explained.

Chiliboy added that Bakashimika also aims to fill a gap in Zambia’s photography industry. “We don’t really have photography schools in Zambia. This platform will allow photographers to have important discussions about professionalism, storytelling, and culture. It will show that photography isn’t just about making money—it’s also about self-expression and discovery.”

Looking Ahead

The Bakashimika International Photography Festival is set to take place in Zambia this June, marking a significant milestone for the country’s visual storytelling industry. The movement represents more than just a celebration of photography—it is a reclaiming of identity, history, and creative freedom. By showcasing authentic stories from an insider’s perspective, Zambian photographers are making sure that their voices are heard loud and clear on the global stage.

At Xposure 2025, the message from the Bakashimika panel was clear: it is time for Zambia, and Southern Africa as a whole, to control its own visual narrative. And with initiatives like this, the future of African photography looks brighter than ever.

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