Debate rises over African photos

By Kim Se-jeong

Staff reporter

People in line for food at a refugee camp vs. a well-dressed female African politician on a red carpet ― which of the two holds more truth about Africa? Or are they just two sides of truth?

A photo exhibition that opened two weeks ago has enraged African diplomats to the extent that they are boycotting it.

The exhibition, "The Innocents," photographed by Czech-born Liba Taylor captures portraits of young girls, women carrying stones, circumcised girls, rescued boy soldiers, a mother feeding her child at a shelter and a girl carrying green beans on her head.

Thirty some photos were taken throughout Africa where she had worked for nearly three decades on contracts for UNICEF, UNHCR and various British non-governmental organizations.

While the photographer and visitors at the exhibition ― where the majority of poor people on photographs had smile on their faces ― saw hope in the photos, Africans saw something else.

"The group expressed deep concern about the photographs selected by the organizers for the exhibition, which present only the worst and negative scenes from pockets of poverty-stricken areas on the continent," the African group of diplomatic corps wrote in a statement released July 14.