Lindokuhle Sobekwa (born 1995) is a South African documentary photographer. He is a Nominee member of
Magnum Photos
Magnum Photos is an international photographic cooperative owned by its photographer-members, with offices in Paris, New York City, London and Tokyo. It was founded in 1947 in Paris by photographers Robert Capa, David Seymour (photographer), Davi ...
and based in Johannesburg.
Life and work
Sobekwa was born in
Katlehong
Katlehong is a large township in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. It is 28 km south-east of Johannesburg and south of Germiston between two other townships of Thokoza and Vosloorus next to the N3 highway. It forms part of the City of E ...
, a
township
A township is a form of human settlement or administrative subdivision. Its exact definition varies among countries.
Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, this tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Canad ...
, 35 km from
Johannesburg
Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...
,
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
. He learned photography in 2012 through participation in the first Of Soul and Joy Project, an educational programme for young people run in the township of
Thokoza
Thokoza, alternatively rendered Tokoza, is a township in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. Thokoza is at the location of the now-defunct Palmietfontein Airport. It is situated south east of Alberton, adjacent to Katlehong. Thokoza was the first black townshi ...
; the workshop was given by Bieke Depoorter and Cyprien Clément-Delmas. His photo essay, ''Nyaope,'' about people who use the drug
Nyaope
Whoonga (or wonga), nyaope and sugars are South African street names for heroin. was published by the South African newspaper ''
Mail & Guardian
The ''Mail & Guardian'', formerly the ''Weekly Mail'', is a South African weekly newspaper and website, published by M&G Media in Johannesburg, South Africa. It focuses on political analysis, investigative reporting, Southern African news, loca ...
'' in 2014 and by ''
Vice
A vice is a practice, behaviour, Habit (psychology), habit or item generally considered morally wrong in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character trait, a defect, an infirmity, or a bad or unhe ...
'' and ''
De Standaard
(, ) is a Flemish daily newspaper published in Belgium by Mediahuis (formerly Corelio and VUM). It was traditionally a Christian-Democratic paper, associated with the Christian-Democratic and Flemish Party, and in opposition to the Sociali ...
'' in 2015. He joined
Magnum Photos
Magnum Photos is an international photographic cooperative owned by its photographer-members, with offices in Paris, New York City, London and Tokyo. It was founded in 1947 in Paris by photographers Robert Capa, David Seymour (photographer), Davi ...
as a Nominee member in 2018. The book ''I carry Her photo with Me'' (2024) "centres around his years-long search for a sister he never really knew, and who passed away when he was younger."
Publications
*''Free From my Happiness.'' With Sibusiso Bheka and Tshepiso Mazibuko. Edited by Bieke Depoorter and Tjorven Bruyneel. With essays by Sean O'Toole.
*''I carry Her photo with Me''. London: Mack, 2024. .
Awards
*2017: Selected for
Magnum Foundation
Magnum Foundation is a non-profit photographic foundation based in New York City. Its mission is to "expands creativity and diversity in documentary photography."
History and mission
Magnum Foundation was founded in 2007 during the collapse o ...
Photography and Social Justice program to develop ''I Carry Her Photo With Me.''
*2018: Magnum Foundation Fund grant, to continue his series ''Nyaope.''
Group exhibitions
* No Man's Art Gallery pop-up gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, March–April 2014. Included Sobekwa's Series ''Nyaope.''
*''Free From My Happiness,'' International Photofestival of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium, 2015; Perignem, Beernem, Belgium, April 2016;
Johannesburg Art Gallery
The Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) is an art gallery in Joubert Park in the city centre of Johannesburg, South Africa. It was once the largest gallery on the continent with a collection of more than 9000 artworks. The gallery collection is la ...
, Johannesburg, South Africa, May–August 2016. Included Sobekwa's Series ''Nyaope'' as well as work by Sibusiso Bheka and Tshepiso Mazibuko. Curated by Tjorven Bruyneel and Bieke Depoorter.
*No Man's Art Gallery pop-up gallery, Tehran, Iran, May–June 2016. Curated by Lih-Lan Wong, Zohreh Deldadeh and Emmelie Koster. Included Sobekwa's Series ''Nyaope.''
*''Fresh Produce,'' Turbine Art Fair, Turbine Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa, July 2016.