Contemporary photographs by Alick Phiri depict the raw honesties of post-colonial Zambia in monochrome.
Alick Phiri: A Pioneering Black Zambian Photographer
Alick Phiri, a Zambian photographer, began his career in 1965 at the age of 17, training under Mr. Prabhubhai Patel at Lusaka's Photo Art Studios. His early artistic experiences involved explaining the identities of various people to Indian boys he played with, a testament to the cultural diversity that would later influence his work.
By 1983, Phiri had launched his own studio, 'Kwacha Photo Studio', in Kanyama, Lusaka. His studio was one of a few Black Zambian and Congolese studios in Lusaka during that time. Phiri mainly photographed people, and street photography was challenging due to the need for a deposit from the subjects. His focus at 'Kwacha Photo Studio' was on making black and white portraits for families, capturing intimate and dignified images of ordinary families and everyday life in post-colonial Zambia.
Phiri's impact on the Lusaka photography scene is profound. He created a vital counter-archive that documented Black Zambian life with dignity during a time when such representation was scarce in state archives. His photographs resist the grand narratives of liberation iconography that dominate Southern African histories, instead focusing on neighbours, loved ones, and ordinary moments. This work reflects a radical gesture of visibility and presence against a backdrop of political and social constraints on Black expression and public visibility under colonial and apartheid-era regimes.
An exhibition featuring Phiri's works is currently open at Everyday Lusaka gallery, titled I'll Be Your Mirror. This exhibition reflects on both Phiri's and South African photographer William Matlala's archives. The exhibition sparks reflection on Lusaka’s changing urban landscape and honors Phiri’s contributions to documenting the city’s social fabric and Black identity through photography.
The exhibition is accompanied by the debut photobook by Phiri and Sana Ginwalla, the curator of the exhibition, titled Lusaka Street. Alick Phiri feels proud to see his work being recognized and preserved, as he initially thought his wife considered his photographs as useless.
Sana Ginwalla, the curator, felt a sense of urgency in showing Phiri's work during his lifetime. Phiri's career in photography was drawn to by his cousin's small cheap camera. Despite the challenges faced in the industry, Phiri's legacy has been recognized in recent exhibitions, notably a dual show titled I’ll Be Your Mirror at Everyday Lusaka gallery, where his archive is showcased alongside South African photographer William Matlala's. Phiri's work remains a critical cultural resource and inspiration for contemporary photography in Zambia.
The exhibition I'll Be Your Mirror is open until 9 August, 2025. Visitors will have the opportunity to witness the powerful and poignant images that Phiri captured, offering a unique glimpse into post-colonial Zambia's social fabric and Black identity.
Alick Phiri's photography work, at 'Kwacha Photo Studio', primarily focused on capturing intimate and dignified images of families, providing a unique documentation of Black Zambian life and identity in post-colonial Zambia, thus expanding the home-and-garden of African photography.
Sana Ginwalla, the curator of the exhibition I'll Be Your Mirror, felt a sense of urgency in showcasing Alick Phiri's works during his lifetime, recognizing his lifestyle and photographic approach as a critical cultural resource and inspiration for contemporary photography, particularly in the home-and-garden of Zambia.
