Invisible Borders’ team now in Europe

ADA DIKE

Trans-African Photographic Initiative,” also known as Invisible Borders, are making positive progress in their journey to Saravejo.

The artist's have been doing some fantastic things since their last update from Senegal.

Though faced with different challenges, they are rugged and determined to complete their trip. With help from their wonderful supporters they managed to raise $6,253 to fund the road trip – “a great achievement and we thank everyone who has made this possible.”

 They have spent a great amount of time in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou - Mauritania, primarily due challenges in obtaining Moroccan visas.

However, they have transformed that misfortune into constructive reflections leading to thought-provoking works that can all be found in everyone’s app. They are now in Malaga - Spain, attempting to settle in and continue theTrans-African discourse. 

The participants met with art community of Nouakchott during their second day in Mauritania, an eclectic collection of painters, photographers, film makers and writers. The artists have been producing inspiring works, most of which have been uploaded to the ever growing app.

We gathered that Dawit and Renee were also honored to visit the artist Amy Sow in her studio while in Nouakchott.

Encounters enroute have encouraged the artists to comment on what they see and what they experience.

From Emmanuel's reflective 'You and I', to Lindokuhle's observations in 'A Litany for Survival', all nine artists have produced touching and profound pieces of work that could only have been borne on an artistic endeavour such as this road trip.
Since arriving in Spain, the artists have already been busy, working with Los Interventores in Malaga with public interventions and photography.

A team of about Nine Africans departed Lagos in June 2014 for a period of five months, travelling through 20 countries by road aimed to tell stories about Africa through photography.

The leader of the team, Mr. Emeka Okereke, said that more than seven Africans from Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Eritrea and Kenya, among others embarked on this year’s trip.

The Nigerian documentary artist also revealed that Invisible Borders began in 2009 by a group of artists who came together to explore the possibilities of arts exchange.

 “Invisible Borders, which began in Nigeria has evolved to include participants from Ghana, Mozambique, Cameroon and so on. We began as photographers, but some of us later became writers. The idea we are trying to propagate is not limited to Africa. The relationship between Africa and Europe is much more horizontal so this road trip aims to address that. We focus on encounter and interaction in this year’s trip,” Okereke said.

In the past four years, they got stuck at borders, but this time, they are making their journey more interactive and defined.