Description
Bio
Lindokuhle Sobekwa was born in Katlehong, Johannesburg, in 1995. He is of a generation of South African photographers who were “born free” after the first democratic elections of 1994. In 2012, he participated in the “Of Soul and Joy Project,” an educational program teaching high school learners photography in the township of Thokoza. During this time, he started photographing birthday parties and weddings, and came to the realization that photography could be an important tool to tell stories that concerned and interested him.
Sobekwa exhibited his work for the first time in 2013, as part of a group show in Thokoza organized by the Rubis Mécénat foundation. In 2015, Sobekwa was awarded a scholarship to study at the Market Photo Workshop, where he completed his foundation course. That same year, his Nyaope series was exhibited in the group show Free From My Happiness. In 2017, Sobekwa was selected by the Magnum Foundation’s Photography and Social Justice Program to develop the project I carry Her photo with Me.
In 2021, he completed a residency at A4 Foundation in Cape Town, which culminated in a two-person exhibition with Mikhael Subotzky titled Tell It to the Mountains. In 2018, Sobekwa was nominated to join Magnum Photos, where he was named a full member in 2022. In 2023, he was awarded the inaugural John Kobal Foundation Fellowship. Maintaining the scrapbook aesthetic of the handmade edition for his first photobook, I carry Her photo with Me was published in 2024.
Mentorship
Lindokuhle Sobekwa’s educational philosophy transcends traditional schooling. Reflecting on his own journey, he explains, “My education in photography was not just in school, where they teach you, but also from the people I photograph.” Aspiring photographers working with Sobekwa are thus encouraged to learn how to capture both the visible and the invisible in their work, expanding their sources of inspiration.
Sobekwa offers a mentorship program that draws deeply from his extensive experience and unique approach to photography. He champions the power of storytelling, merging reality with fiction to craft compelling narratives. “If you’re interested in this type of work, I look forward to assisting you in shaping your story,” Sobekwa says. His mentorship is tailored for those who wish to explore this creative intersection, using photography as a tool to tell impactful stories.
