ADPAI is a project that seeks to digitise and preserve the work of African documentary photographers whose work remain in photographic negative formats. Many of the images from the ADPAI photographers capture moments of vital political significance, documenting the anti-apartheid struggle, social movements, cultural events, music, sporting events and everyday life in Southern Africa and beyond. The initiative is a collaborative effort between AFH and a growing group of acclaimed documentary photographers including: Cedric Nunn, Deseni Sooben, Rafs Mayet, and Jeeva Rajgopaul.

The project was made possible through an initial investment in digital scanning equipment by AFH, laying the groundwork for a sustainable and long-term archival process. Additional funding secured by AFH through the National Arts Council (PESP) led to the digitisation of Cedric Nunn’s photographic archives and culminated in a powerful retrospective exhibition of Nunn’s work, affirming the project’s transformative potential.

Why the project exists?

Many African photographers working in the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s were independent artists  or worked within small collectives and agencies, often outside state and commercial systems. Their work, shot on analogue film before the advent of digital technologies is often inaccessible, stored on fragile negatives that face the risk of damage or total loss. Without intervention, these historical records could disappear, leaving gaps in our collective memory.

ADPAI is a collective act of memory, curation, and restoration. The project seeks to digitise, curate, and publicly share these important photographic archives by restoring voice, memory, and authorship to African photographers whose contributions have been overlooked or underrepresented.

ADPAI’s mission includes:

  • Creating a secure digital repository for African documentary photography.
  • Ensuring images are properly captioned and contextualised, retaining the stories behind each frame.
  • Enabling research, exhibitions, and publications that give new life to these visual histories.
  • Protecting intellectual property rights of photographers and their estates through the establishment of ADPAI as an independent NGO managed by the photographers directly.

 

With thanks to the NAC (PESP) for initial funding of the ADPAI Project.