WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP - TALES OF RESILIENCE

By Luumuno S. Mudenda

This provides a synopsis of the women’s photography training workshop held on the 15^th to the 19^th of April at Siachilaba ward 10. The workshop was facilitated by Calvin Dondo, Annie Mpalume, Tina Aver, Andreas Mayrhoter and Tim with support from Basilwizi’s intern Luumuno Siangoma Mudenda.

Tonga woman seen puffing smoke: Picture taken participants

Twenty participants attended the training workshop with 19 female participants and one male respectively who is the focal person for Siachilaba citizen journalists. The workshop was a second phase in photography in order for Tonga women to tell their story in form of pictures as well as interviews hence the theme Tales of Resilience.

On the 15^th, there was a recap of the previous workshop’s activities which the participants had done, to show if they had grasped the concepts. There was also identification of new members, as some the members were not present while some had got jobs. Of the current participants, seven members were from the previous group, whereas thirteen participants were new. This scenario slowed the programme because new members were separated for the old groups in order for them to be taught about the basics of photography and how to handle the camera. This new group was mentored by Calvin Dondo. Annie Mpalume taught the old group about the importance of light. The old group was classified as group 1 and the new group as group two.

Participants from group 1 were taught how to properly handle the camera with the left hand holding the underside of the camera. The new group did extremely well as they could properly handle the camera well at the end of the day. They learned the importance of the CF card and how to insert and remove it, tripod, using manual focus (MF) and automatic focus (AF) as well as the importance of the pictures and practical use of the camera.

Annie Mpalume taught the second group on importance of light. Participants learned that photography needed light, morning light and evenings light are always the best. Fire could also be used as light when taking pictures. They also acquired the reason why some of the pictures are dimmed, for instance showing pictures of people who might have been victimized yet their faces would not be identifiable.

At the end of the day, group 1 was tasked to find information about the dislocation of the Tonga people from the river banks to the unfertile land. Group 2 was required to bring different types of cloths.

On the 16^th, the day started with answers from the assignments. The participants brought a lot of useful information on the relocation of the Tonga people to the escapement of the Zambezi valley. The second group was able to take portraits using different types of background (a variety of cloths which they had brought). Participants were encouraged to take the training seriously as some people earn a living through taking photographs (for making passports and driver’s license). They also learned that if one takes an image while below the person, he/she creates an image the person is strong. However if one takes an image above the person, it makes the person to look small and weak. The participants also learned how to self-capture themselves.

Participants were tasked to bring any remaining artifacts or materials which were brought from the river banks (kumatongo).

On the third day, Tina, Tim and Andreas from TIMES UP organization in Austria joined the workshop. Introduction of the participants was done. Participants were given the flow to ask any question which they had. This was done to create a strong bond and to make participants to open up between the Austrians and the local participants. The Austrians were asked their age, if they were married, and had families. People were very shocked to be told that at the age of 46, it’s normal for Austrians not to have children. It was shocking to hear that Education in Austria was free until a person starts to work. The tradition of the Austrians was that the bride’s father is the one who pays for the weeding.

The participants were later interviewed on their way of living in Binga and how they cope with their duties and the challenges of life they face. The women freely opened up and a lot of information was collected. The participants on this day learned about physical and alternative reality narratives of storytelling. The 18^th of April was the commemorations for Independence Day and there was no training.

On the 19^th and being the last day of the workshop, the participants took pictures. Participants also learned how to download images from the camera to the computer. However, the participants did not grasp the concepts as most of them did not know how to operate computers.

Summarily the workshop was a success as most of the photography concepts were grasped and photos taken by the Siachilaba women were exhibited at Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA).