Malick Sidibé
Malian photographer of 1960s Bamako youth culture.
Last updated
His work is held in collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the J. Paul Getty Museum.[1] Born in the Fulani village of Soloba, Malian photographer Malick Sidibé gained recognition for his black-and-white images capturing 1960s Bamako's popular culture.[2]
Life and work
Sidibé's birthplace was Soloba, a village situated 300 kilometers away from Mali's capital, Bamako.[3] In 1955, Sidibé was hired by photographer Gérard Guillat to do decorating work at his studio.[3] His documentary work concentrated on the youth culture present in Mali's capital city.[4] For weddings, Sidibé employed an Agfa 6 × 6 camera with bellows, while a Foca Sport 24 x 36 was his choice for spontaneous shots.[5]
Sidibé's death in Bamako resulted from diabetes-related complications.[6]
What the cited sources add
The Aperture article notes that Sidibé was born at the heart of the Wassoulou, where ancient Mandé music connects to African American blues, soul, and funk.[7] The M+B Photo biography states that his works bear witness to the joy and confidence of Africa's youth revolution at the junction of Malian independence.[8] The BBC News report confirms that in 2007 he became the first African winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale.[9] The Guardian obituary notes that Sidibé spent his nights cycling between nightclubs, photographing party-goers with his Brownie camera.[10]
The same source quotes critic Robert Storr saying no African artist has done more to enhance photography's stature in the region.[10]
References
- Wikipedia, "Malick Sidibé" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Malick Sidibé", The Contemporary African Art Collection; "Femme Peul du Niger", J. Paul Getty Museum; "Malick Sidibé: Malian, 1936–2016", Museum of Modern Art (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Malick Sidibé" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Groves, "Malian photographer Malick Sidibé dies aged 80", The Guardian, 15 April 2016; "Disparition du photographe malien Malick Sidibé par Le Quotidien de l'Art", Le Quotidien de l'Art, 15 April 2016; "Malick Sidibe Biography & Facts Britannica", Encyclopædia Britannica; "Malick Sidibé", The Guggenheim Museums and Foundation; Groves, "Malian photographer Malick Sidibé dies aged 80", The Guardian, 15 April 2016; Shakur, "Malick Sidibé: Creative Force of African Culture", The New York Times, 11 April 2016; Laurent, "In Memoriam: Malick Sid en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Malick Sidibé" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Malik Sidibé: Mali Twist Exhibition", Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Malick Sidibé" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Touré, A. Chab (26 August 2016), "Midnight in Bamako: In search of the late Malick Sidibé and the rhythmic roots of his legendary photographs", Aperture, Issue ; Lamuniere, Michelle, Malick Sidibe, and Lia Brozga. "Ready to Wear: A conversation with Malick Sidibe", Transition 10, no. 4 (2001): 132–159.; Schwendener, Martha (27 February 2014), "The Young and the Rebellious: A Review of 'Malick Sidibé: Chemises' in Poughkeepsie", The New York Times.; Shakur, "Malick Sidibé: Creative Force of African Culture", The New York Times, 11 April 20 en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Malick Sidibé" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Touré, A. Chab (26 August 2016), "Midnight in Bamako: In search of the late Malick Sidibé and the rhythmic roots of his legendary photographs", Aperture, Issue ; Crosley Coker, "Malick Sidibé, Iconic Malian Photographer, Has Died", Jezebel, 15 April 2016; C.B., "In memoriam: Malick Sidibe's photographs captured the style and history of a newly independent Mali", The Economist, 16 April 2016; "Malick Sidibé", M+B Photo (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Malick Sidibé" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: C.B., "In memoriam: Malick Sidibe's photographs captured the style and history of a newly independent Mali", The Economist, 16 April 2016; Laurent, "In Memoriam: Malick Sidibé (1936 – 2016)", Time, 15 April 2016; Grimes, "Malick Sidibé, Photographer Known for Social Reportage in Mali, Dies at 80", The New York Times, 2016-04-15; Grimes, "Malick Sidibé, Photographer Known for Social Reportage in Mali, Dies at 80", The New York Times, 2016-04-15 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Touré, A. Chab (26 August 2016), "Midnight in Bamako: In search of the late Malick Sidibé and the rhythmic roots of his legendary photographs", Aperture, Issue . facts only, no text reused. aperture.org
- "Malick Sidibé", M+B Photo. facts only, no text reused. mbphoto.com
- "Mali's pioneering photographer Malick Sidibe dies", BBC News. facts only, no text reused. bbc.com
- Groves, "Malian photographer Malick Sidibé dies aged 80", The Guardian, 15 April 2016. facts only, no text reused. theguardian.com
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Malick Sidibé (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
Also in the Codexery
More in Photographers
Test yourself
Three questions drawn from this entry’s sources. Pick an answer to check it.
Answers checked against the source article
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Malick Sidibé (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced