History

Kamoinge emerged in 1963 when two groups of New York City based African American photographers came together in the spirit of friendship and sought artistic equality and empowerment. They chose the name Kamoinge - meaning “a group of people acting together” in the Gikuyu language of Kenya-to reflect their commitment to supporting one another and photography’s power as an independent art form that depicts Black communities as they saw and experienced them, in contrast to how they were often negatively portrayed in art, media, and popular culture.

Kamoinge embraced a philosophy of art, shaped by photography’s source, range and influence on the individual uplift and social reform, established by Frederick Douglass, a statesman and abolitionist, who was also the most photographed person in the 19th century. Consistent with with Black visual culture’s rich history and photography’s legacy, Kamoinge members continue to have distinctive careers within fine art, photojournalism, and commercial arenas.

In addition, mentoring young photographers is an ongoing tradition with community, civic and academic organizations. Kamoinge’s celebrated aesthetic is rooted in the complimentary art forms of photography and music, specifically jazz. The components of improvisation, timing and technical expertise combined with critique, resistance, and intuition are used to nurture a community of excellence, strength, and beauty. Many of Kamoinge’s members have been influenced by one another and the work of Roy DeCarava, Henri-Cartier-Bresson, W. Eugene Smith, Margeret Bourke-White, Gordon Parks, Robert Frank, Diane Arbus, Ansel Adams, and others within the history of photography.