Antony Kaminju Artist Statement: 

Antony Kaminju is a Documentary photographer, Multimedia Producer and educator. His work gives evidence that he is a keen observer of every day life and intrigued by moments of performance, identity, archival research, urban spaces and pop culture. Over the years he has been facilitator of documentary photography studies at the Market Photo Workshop, Johannesburg. He has also served as Phojournalism lecturer at University of Witwatersrand - Journalism department as well as a visiting lecturer at University of Johannesburg Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture.  

A self driven creative, extremely passionate about all things visual and with a unique understanding of how to motivate engagement through powerful imagery. He is a former Photography editor and TV Producer with the Nation Media group, Nairobi Kenya and has corresponded with leading media agencies including Reuters, Sunday Times, Mail and Guardian among others.
His articles and images have been published and reviewed by local and International media and exhibited widely, twice at the Bamako Biennale, Mali. His work is also part of art collection by the Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) in France and the Wedge Gallery in Toronto, Canada. 
He is currently undertaking a Documentary Film research project hosted by the Film and Television Studies, Wits school of Arts and the History Workshop, Wits. 
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Young South Africans in a trendy street of Melville Johannesburg.Left is Ncobile Nzimisa and Mbali Khuzwayo.Photo Antony Kaminju

Black Diamonds
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Red Ants

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Sapelo
Part of 150 new initiates of the Ndebele people in Mpumalanga , South Africa on 27th July 2006.The young men aged between 18 to 34 were in the bush for two months healing and learning as how assume the responsibilities of being a man.On this day they have come out to be presented to the community and be presented with beads by the chief after which they went back to their homes to assume responsibilty in the community. The event takes place every four years but will have to be postponed in 2010 because of the world cup coming to South Africa.Photo Antony Kaminju/ Reuters

Ndebele Feature
Teenage girls traditional songs after undergoing a virginity test on sunday 18 February in Pietmaritzburtg town about 480 kilometers from Johnnesburg.There were 200 girls aged between 6 and 31 years who underwent the process and declared as virgins.Although human rights activists have been condemming this Zulu culture as demeaning and incorrect the women elders who carry it out have vowed that it must continue.They argue that it prevents the spread of HIV and also gives self esteem to those who are declared as virgins.Photo Antony Kaminju

Virginity Test
SUNDAY BEST For many immigrants who come to Johannesburg they battle to adapt to the challenges of a new life in a big city. Their cultural ways become a thing of memory than one to be lived. Many struggle to adapt to the ways of the big city. However one thing that is common to many immigrants is the specialness associated with Sundays. In many African communities Sunday is a special day, one of worship and relaxation. More to this is that it’s the day to look smart. It’s the day to wear your ‘Sunday best’ as it’s called. It’s the day to wear that jewellery that is special, or the suit, dress that arouses attention. Its perceived as family day, one to sit back and relax. The approach to the project is street photography on selected streets of Yeoville. Yeoville is inhabited by a large number of African immigrants. The participants will be photographed on Sundays when going or coming from their places of worship or just those who may fit within the theme of ‘Sunday best.’ Yeovile Landscape Yeoville is said to have been one of the best residential suburbs before 1994. The area was declared a suburb in 1890 and was advertised as a sanitarian for the rich. Set on a ridge, it was said its air was purer unlike the smoky mining city of Johannesburg below, which was fast developing at the time. Over the years, Yeoville has gone through a transformation from a mainly Jewish area to a bohemian cultural centre that attracted all kinds of burgeoning artists and activists. The main streets such as Rocky were transformed from a quiet area that catered for local residents to a host of restaurants, bars, art clubs that attracted visitors from afar. By 1990’s most of the white residents were moving to seemingly better suburbs due to great infrastructure decay and chaos including drugs and other crimes that visited Yeoville. Their place was taken mainly by hundreds of African immigrants and the area is generally perceived to be a Pan Africanist suburb. Although sti

Sunday Best
Yvonne Chaka Chaka(R) and Ntsiki Mazwai entertain jazz lovers at this years Standard Bank Joy of Jazz in Newtown, Johnesburg 29 August.The annual event attracts many International artitst as well as Jazz lovers. Photo Antony Kaminju

Joy Of Jazz
A Kaizer Chief fan a Soweto Derby.Photo Antony Kaminju

SA Soccer Fans
Informal gold diggers sift through sad and mud along the riverbeds in Ikolomani village in Kakamega county 500 km west of Nairobi Kenya. The then pan the sand in search of gold residues. The informal gold mining has been practiced for years in Ikolomani, sometimes leading to deaths when the mines curve in as they occasionally do. However, that has not deterred others in a county rated among the poor in the country. Over the weekend they participate in bull fighting competitions where the whole village comes together to ululate and celebrate the winner.

Gold Digging in Kenya
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TEAR SHEETS
Mail & Guardian: The Portfolio: Antony Kaminju
Al Jazeera | Antony Kaminju Portfolio

Tear sheets

Antony's chapter
bbc feature
Gold mine story
hunt story bbc mag
Red ants