Malick Sidibé
PhotographerKnown for:
documentary photography of Malian youth culture in the 1960s and 1970s
Education:
Institut National des Arts, Bamako (1955); apprenticed with photographer Gérard Guillat-Guignard
Malick Sidibé documented the social life of Bamako's youth in the 1960s and 1970s - at outdoor dances, beach parties, and river excursions - at a moment of national optimism following independence from France. He was awarded the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement at the Venice Biennale in 2007, the first photographer and first African artist to receive the honor. He continued working in Bamako until near the end of his life.
Malick Sidibé's Gear List(1)
Rollei
Connection note
Sidibé used a Rolleiflex for his studio portraits and a Brownie-style camera for his outdoor work documenting Bamako nightlife. His Rolleiflex is documented in the catalog for his 2007 Venice Biennale Golden Lion exhibition.
Product description
The 2.8F, produced from 1960 to 1981, is the final production version of the twin-lens Rolleiflex. It uses a Zeiss Planar 80mm f/2.8 taking lens and produces 6×6cm negatives on 120 film.
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Last updated March 20, 2026
