Moshito – Faces of Africa

They’re not cynical here. It takes time to get used to it. People’s faces are open to discovery, to knowing who you are, what you have to say. The other morning three of us were talking and one of the young staff suddenly stood before us, shaking our hands just to say hello. When I wrote before that the handshake is sensuous, I meant that it’s not a crushing macho hold but a soft communication. It says: we’re together in this moment, you and I. They don’t let go immediately, as though some energy needs to flow between us as well as our words.

This is Eric, from Benin. He heads a pan-West African organisation that is promoting the area’s music as well as building basic systems in Benin, Togo and other countries so that artists can get royalties for the first time.


Anabel is one of the Moshito conference organisers. She’s from Soweto.


Definitely the hairstyle of the day.


There’s a library worth of stories in this mans face.


Gerald Seligman (American) heads Womex, the music festival organisation. Dudu Sarr (Senegalese) manages musicians and organises tours.


Hip hop star? Fashion icon?