Afro PRP: Exploring the Image of Africans in Polish Press Photography from 1955-1989

This exhibition examines how Africans were depicted in Polish press photography between 1955 and 1989. It explores the evolution of these portrayals, from initial exoticism to representations of friends, revolutionaries, and ordinary citizens, often influenced by political contexts and the influx of African students.

The exhibition "Afro PRP. The image of the Africans in the Polish press photography from 1955-1989" delves into the visual representation of Africans in Polish daily press photography over three decades. Beginning with the 1955 World Festival of Youth and Students, the exhibition spans through the "year of Africa" in the 1960s and includes student photographs from the 1980s. It is the first exhibition dedicated to presenting and describing how Africans living and staying in Poland were portrayed, examining not only the press photography and private archives but also how authorities and the press constructed these images. Curator Bartosz Nowicki highlights the surprising scope of interest in Africa, particularly by the government in the 1960s, which led to an increase in African students in Poland. The exhibition reveals how this phenomenon was captured by press photographers and reflects the political landscape, including the USSR's and Poland's endorsement of countries liberating themselves from colonialism to extend socialist influence. The number of African students grew significantly, from a few in the 1950s to two thousand by the late 1970s. The exhibition also documents visits from dignitaries like Kwame Nkrumah and Haile Selassie, showing how their stays were covered. "Polish-African friendship" was a significant propaganda aspect, with the press portraying Poland as a country where Africans were equals. However, some documents also presented Africans as mere exotic phenomena. These diverse motifs have been collected and organized into five themes: Delegates, Students, Revolutionaries, Citizens, and Comrades.