Samuel FOSSO

Lives and works in Bangui, Central African Republic and Paris, France

Important dates

1962
Born in Kumba, Cameroon

1972
Flees Nigeria and the Biafra War, and seeks refuge in Bangui, Central African Republic

1975
Opens his first photography studio in Bangui at the age of thirteen. Alongside his commercial portrait work Samuel begins a series of self-portraits

1994
Participates at the first “Rencontres de la Photographie” in Bamako, Mali

1997
Invited by the French brand “Tati” to celebrate its 50th anniversary, with Malick Sidibé and Seydou Keïta

2004-2006
Takes part in the historic exhibition Africa Remix at Museum Kunst Palast, Düsseldorf / Hayward Gallery, London / Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris / Mori Art Museum, Tokyo

2014
Looting of Samuel’s house in Bangui. His studio negatives have been saved from destruction by Jérôme Delay (Associated Press) and Peter Bouckaert (Human Rights Watch)

2016
The complete “African Spirits” series (2008) in large format enters the MoMA collection in New York, USA

2018
Honoured with the Infinity Awards (Art) for his series “Black Pope” by the International Center of Photography, New York, USA

April 2020
Publication of a monograph and a book dedicated to the series « SIXSIXSIX » by Steidl Verlag and The Walther Collection, New York

November 2021
Retrospective at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP), Paris

Awards

2018
ICP Infinity Award, category Art, New York, USA
PHotoESPAÑA Award, Madrid, Spain

2001
Prince Claus Fund Award, Den Hague, The Netherlands

2000
Dak’Art First prize for photography, Dakar, Senegal


1995
Afrique en Création, Paris, France