La inquietante y retrofutura África de Osborne Macharia

Se trata de uno de los profesionales con más proyección en el continente. Desde su Kenya natal, Osborne Macharia, se autodefine como “un artista comercial y fotógrafo autodidacta, licenciado en Arquitectura”. Y eso es exactamente lo que traslada a sus obras, auténticas piezas de arte, que demuestran cómo la imaginación no tiene límites, a medio camino entre Mad Max y Star Wars.
Él mismo lo reconoce así: “Mi estilo de fotografía es lo que llamo al afroficción, un estilo narrativo independiente de fotografía que destaca tres principios clave: cultura, ficción e identidad, a través de la historia que narra la frontera entre la realidad y la fantasía”. Macharia es un gran defensor de las minorías y desfavorecidos, a los que rescata y convierte en potentes protagonistas de sus producciones. La violencia de género, el contrabando de marfil, los gays, albinos y las personas mayores lo tienen como un gran aliado.
Osborne Macharía autorizó la reproducción de la siguiente galería en África 3.0, que también puede disfrutarse en su perfil de Instagram:
- DUDUS…..member of Nairobi’s Underground Fight Club who’s fighters are exclusively people of short stature having undergone years of intense training since they were 5yrs old. It’s been said that it is an elite wealthy group of former fighters that sponsors and manages the network. They take part in other fight clubs across the globe and have titles to their names. Styling/production: @kevoabbra2 Hair: @rickykish MUA: @sheetal__patel Illustrations: @jcreativemynds
- KABANGU: Watchmen by night, hip hop heads by day. This is the story of 4 gentlemen in the heart of Kariobangi (one of Nairobi’s informal settlements) who call themselves Kabangu. A group of real hip hop heads from the 80’s who meet up regularly to educate and mentor upcoming young talent venturing out into the hip hop industry. They teach them on values such as peace, equality, prosperity and social justice.
- KIPIPIRI 4….STORY OF THE BRAVE MAU MAU WOMEN. She was 2nd in command and was always behind Bobo. Being the arms bearer, she was a crafted fighter with more than normal night vision. Her work was to smuggle knives and other blunt weapons for sharpening to and from the Mau Mau hideouts as well as fresh supply of weapons inside her hair.
- RUMOUR HAS IT THAT WITHIN THE MAU MAU FIGHTERS WAS A SPECIAL UNIT OF 5 OPTICIANS WHO HAND CRAFTED SPECIAL MADE SPECTACLES THAT THEY USED TO SPOT THE ENEMY AT NIGHT.
- This is the story of Kenya’s LEAGUE OF EXTRAVAGANT GRANNIES who were once corporate and government leader in the 1970’s but are now retired. They now live the retired high life travelling to exotic and remote areas within Africa to explore, Party and enjoy in exclusivity.