Malick Sidibé, 1935/36–2016

Malick Sidibé was a celebrated Malian photographer known for his black-and-white images documenting Bamako’s vibrant popular culture during the 1960s.

Born in Soloba, Mali, he studied design and jewelry at the École des Artisans Soudanais (now the Institut National des Arts) in Bamako. In 1955, he began an apprenticeship at Gérard Guillat-Guignard’s Photo Service Boutique — “Gégé la pellicule” — which marked the beginning of his photographic career.

In 1958, Sidibé opened “Studio Malick” in central Bamako, where he continued printing portraits and repairing cameras throughout his life. The cultural energy of the late 1950s and the approach of independence gave rise to a new generation of photographers deeply embedded in the social life they documented. Sidibé became a pivotal figure, beloved by young people, attending every soirée where youth clubs danced to new rhythms from Europe and Cuba, dressed in elegant Western fashions.

In 1957, he was the only reporter in Bamako covering all major events, festivities, and surprise-parties. These gatherings often lasted until dawn and continued on Sundays along the Niger River. His photographs from this era radiate spontaneity, joy, and complicity — capturing a generation reveling in freedom, style, and music.

In the 1970s, Sidibé shifted toward the studio portraiture that would later make him world-famous. Although he stopped photographing parties in 1978, he continued studio work and camera repair. His international reputation grew significantly after the first African Photography Encounters in Bamako in 1994, leading to global exhibitions, commissions, and invitations.

His work has been widely exhibited across Europe (notably at Fondation Cartier in Paris), the United States, and Japan. Many of his photographs belong to the Contemporary African Art Collection (CAAC) of Jean Pigozzi.

Sidibé received the Hasselblad Award in 2003 and, in 2007, became the first photographer to receive the Venice Biennale’s Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. In 2006, Tigerlily Films released the documentary *Dolce Vita Africana*, featuring Sidibé at work and revisiting his early subjects. In 2008, he received the ICP Infinity Award for Lifetime Achievement.

source: Wikipedia