Preparations are officially underway in Mali for the 15th edition of the Rencontres de Bamako, the premier African Photography Biennial, which is scheduled to run from November 26, 2026, to January 26, 2027.
On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the newly appointed general curator, Armelle Dakouo, was received in an audience by Mamou Daffé, the Minister of Handicrafts, Culture, the Hotel Industry, and Tourism. Dakouo, who earned her position through a competitive selection process, was accompanied by key cultural leaders, including Tidiane Sangaré of the African House of Photography and El Hadj Amadou Diop, the Biennial’s General Delegate. The meeting served as a formal introduction of the curatorial team and a strategic planning session for the event’s official launch ceremony.
The upcoming edition will center on the evocative theme of “REFABULATION(S),” a concept designed to engage photographers, videographers, and visual artists from Africa and the global diaspora. This theme encourages artists to explore image-based practices that challenge and reimagine contemporary narratives. While the call for applications is set to identify the participating artists, the results will be finalized well before the November opening to ensure sufficient time for exhibition logistics and related artistic programming. This milestone event continues a legacy started in 1994, solidifying Bamako’s role as a vital hub for contemporary visual arts on the continent.
Minister Daffé’s direct involvement underscores the Malian government’s commitment to the Biennial as a driver for both cultural expression and the broader tourism and hospitality sectors. The official launch, set for Thursday, May 14, at the African House of Photography, will initiate public communication regarding the detailed program and institutional partnerships. Over the course of its two-month duration, the 15th Rencontres de Bamako aims to provide an international platform for dialogue between researchers, curators, and the public, further cementing the city’s status as a capital of African photography.
MD/te/lb/abj/APA