Gallery

Black Diamonds

It’s a sunday afternoon December 9 2007 in Soweto at the Rock restaurant where young people from the suburbs and township meet to have drinks and socilalize.Photo Antony Kaminju

Youngster in the evening at a favourite meeting place in Soweto. Many of the black middleclass South Africans come from the townships such as Soweto, 050908.Photo Antony Kaminju

Young South Africans in a trendy street of Melville Johannesburg.Left is Ncobile Nzimisa and Mbali Khuzwayo.Photo Antony Kaminju

Youngster in the evening at a favourite meeting place in Soweto.Many of the black middleclass South Africans come fromm the townships such as Soweto, 050908.Photo Antony Kaminju

Young South Africans in a trendy club street of Melville Johannesburg.Photo Antony Kaminju

Ndebele Feature

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

Chief N.J.Mashlangu from Kwadebele in Mpumalanga , South Africa.He is talking to part of the 150 new iniatiates of the Ndebele .The young men aged between 18 to 34 were presented by the chief with beads after which they went back to their homes to assume responsibilty in the community. They had been in seclusion for two months. The event takes place after every four years.Photo Antony Kaminju

Gold Digging in Kenya

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.

Community members of Kyayega village in Kakamega are thrilled by two bulls fighting it out during the traditional bullfighting competition that takes place in parts of western Kenya. The old tradition is said to have started many centuries ago when bulls would fight if they happened to meet on the way from the river. The bull on the left known as ‘likongo’ won the fight.Photo Antony Kaminju

A young lady in the town of Kakamega on the day of the bullfight.She has sugurcane to sell to the comunity members.
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.

SA Soccer Fans

Kenneth Metiba who prefers to be called as ÔLong John SilverÕ poses for a photograph outside his house in Soweto. Now in his 50Õs he has been an Orlando Pirates supporter since he was a teenager. He literally lives as a sea pirate dressing as one collecting paraphernalia associated with sea pirates.

Orlando Pirates number one supporter, Johannes Mzion Mofokeng , outskirts of Johannesburg. He is ready to dress for a match at Orlando Stadium on this day, 17th February 2010.His bedroom is adorned with Orlando Pirates memorabilia .He is also a key Bafana Bafana supporter. Antony Kaminju

A Kaizer Chief fan a Soweto Derby.Photo Antony Kaminju

Orlando Pirates players dejected after their team failed to score against Kaizer Chiefs
Photo Antony Kaminju

A shrine in the house of Orlando Pirates number one supporter, Johannes Mzion Mofokeng in Sibokeng, outskirts of Johannesburg. He prays to his ancestors at this spot every time his club is to play another team. Antony Kaminju

Mr Sox one of the Orlando team supporters at his house outside Johannesburg.He dresses like a woman as he argues that his club is the ‘mother’ of all soccer clubs in Africa.

Orlando pirates players using a mock telephone to ‘call to the gods’ so that they may defeat Kaizer Chiefs who they were playing on this day, Feb 2010.

Sunday Best

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.’

Stand Alone

Residents of Khutsong South Africa Merafong lit tyres and throw stones at Police vehicles yesterday protesting the decision by the Goverment to icorporate the small town into North west.The day long riots saw many residents injured by rubber bullets fired by the Police and three houses belonging to municipal counsilors burnt down by the angry mob. Photo Antony Kaminju

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

Zuma supporters dance outside Johannesburg High court after the former deputy president was acquitted of rape charges on 8th May 2006 .Photo Antony Kaminju

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

Former South African President Nelson Mandela meets 23 post graduate beneficiaries of mandela Rhodes scholarship of 2008. The awards are awarded on the basis academic and leadership potential to students drawn from across Africa.Photo Antony Kaminju

Former Prseident of South Africa , Nelson Mandela congratulates his grandson mandla at his wedding in Eastern Cape ,16 April 2007. Photo Antony Kaminju

Hugh Masekhela during a performance at Kippies ,11 April 2006

South African diva Miriam Makeba entertains guests in New Town Johannesburg on the night of 23 August 2007.Makeba is among local and International artists who are performing in this years “Joy of Jazz” annual music festival. The festival which has taken place for the last ten years marks womens month acknowledging their emancipation. Among other artists who will perform in the three day event is American R&B artist Freddie Jackson.Photo Antony Kaminju/Reuters

Prseident Thambo Mbeki learns how to high to jump from emabttled former Deputy president Jacob Zuma at an ANC rally at Witbank ,13 Jan 2007. Photo Antony Kaminju