February, 2026

Last month, I was very excited to go check out Seydou Keita’s photography exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. Titled “A Tactile Lens”.

What resonated most with me about this exhibit was how vividly you were transported to a vibrant Mali post-independence. These images were eerily similar to those of my parents and relatives taken in the 60s and 70s in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The same sort of poses with the same props and backdrops. Spending my formative years in London, I connected with an often-forgotten time in Tanzania through this exhibit.

The exhibition showcased a bountiful archive of Seydou’s portraiture photography from his studio in Bamako, Mali. Where everyday people from all walks of life came to document their swagger, opulence, and general self-ownership, from the early 50’s. Whether it was a family celebration or a football team winning a trophy, Seydou really captured the heartbeat of Malians living their best lives.

What I really enjoyed about this photo essay was the storytelling of a time in the past when Malians and Africans alike were full of hope, love, and togetherness.