African Stories - ASM Baraza

African Stories for Social Change

The African Social Movements Baraza is a collective platform, hosted by TrustAfrica and its partners, and dedicated to strengthening social movements across Afrika. It provides a space for activists, advocates, and change-makers to come together, exchange ideas, and strategize on addressing the pressing social issues facing the continent.

As part of the 3rd ASM Baraza to be held in Accra, Ghana from the 14th to 16th April 2025, TrustAfrica has partnered with Thrive Afrika to run the Afrikan Stories for Social Change (ASSC) program. ASSC harnesses the power of storytelling to amplify the voices and work of social movements, shedding light on critical social justice issues and driving collective action.

20 exceptional storytellers from across the continent have been selected for the ASSC program. These include photographers, filmmakers, writers, poets, and multimedia storytellers who are deeply engaged with social movements and are working on compelling projects that celebrate activism, ethical inquiry, and social impact. Their contributions will be featured through exhibitions, publications, and digital platforms at the ASM Baraza, fostering important dialogues on the role and power of social movements in fostering accountability, justice, and transformation.

Afrikan Stories for Social Change will kick off with a 6 – week mentorship program from February through March 2024. Guided by experienced mentors, the storytellers will refine their projects and produce impactful works that spotlight the power of social movements across Afrika.

Meet our cohort 2025

Addis Aemero

ETHIOPIA

Addis Aemero, an Ethiopian freelance photographer,discovered her passion for photography at a young age.Inspired by her mother and grandfather, Addis has furtherhoned her skills through workshops like the CreativeFutures Program under the mentorship of MichaelTsegaye and later worked closely with Aida Muluneh, aleading figure in Ethiopian photography. Her work hasbeen showcased in notable exhibitions, including theBlank Wall Gallery in Athens, Addis Foto Fest, the NobelPeace Center in Oslo, and the Sharjah Art Museum in theUAE. Addis also contributed to organizing Addis Foto Fest,the largest photography festival in East Africa. Among heraccomplishments, Addis has served as the officialphotographer for Her Excellency Sahle-Work Zewde,Ethiopia’s first female president. Today, she continues tocapture stories through her lens as a freelancephotographer.

Christina Kamwendo

Malawi

Christina Kamwendo, known by her pen name Dark Shadow, is a Malawian poet, writer, and spoken word artist. Born on November 17, 1998, she began writing at a young age and embraced performance poetry in 2017, using the stage to share powerful stories. She has released three studio-recorded playlists and a full poetry album, blending raw emotion with thoughtful intellect. Christina’s work explores themes of love, loss, justice, and human rights, using poetry as a tool to amplify unheard voices. Beyond her art, she is an advocate for youth and women’s empowerment, championing education, art, and wellbeing as forces for change.

Cyril Mawuli Adjabeng

Ghana

Mawuli Adjabeng is a Ghanaian documentary photographer. He graduated from KNUST in 2013 with a Bachelor’s in Industrial Arts, majoring in Textiles Design. He also completed a Masters in Development Communications at GIMPA-Accra, Mawuli’s passion for visual storytelling led him to documentary photography, he now has over a decade of experience in visual storytelling. He has exhibited works at notable events such as Experience Ghana’s “Back Home to Ghana” in Toronto (2017), the Fujifilm South Africa feature, University Research CO LLC/Systems for Health Photo Exhibition (2019), IMANI Jump Project Exhibition (2020), and the Norman Rea Gallery’s “Black Lives Matter” Exhibition by York University (2020/21) – United Kingdom. His projects span clients like UNCDF, ECOM Trading, Plan International, Pasico-Ghana, Autism Awareness Conference, Star Oil Ghana, and Ghana Health Service. Mawuli’s work is a testament to his belief in the power of photography to capture and remind humanity of its essence.

Danmore Chuma

South Africa

Danmore Chuma is an award-winning frontline human rights defender, a socio-economic justice activist and a journalist. He is a Research Fellow for Al Jazeera Media Network and a Report Fellow for the International Women’s Media Foundation. Currently, Chuma is the Executive Director for Giraffe Heroes South Africa, an organisation that writes stories of rights defenders, people who risk and sacrifice for the good of humanity. He holds a BA degree from the University of Zimbabwe and is completing a Masters in Adult Community Education and Training at the University of Cape Town.

Eric Muthomi

Kenya

Eric is an experienced professional in communitydevelopment, specializing in peacebuilding,governance, and natural resource management.Since 2013, he has worked on initiatives promotinggender equality, human rights, and environmentalconservation, including drafting key legislation likethe Sand Harvesting Regulatory Bill for Isiolo County.His efforts have significantly impacted NorthernKenya’s community development and policylandscape. In addition to his work in communitydevelopment, Eric is also a passionate advocate foryouth empowerment and education. He hasmentored young people from marginalizedcommunities and supported them in pursuing theireducational goals. Through his mentorship programs,he aims to empower the next generation of leadersfrom underprivileged backgrounds.

Fatma Fahmy

Egypt

Fahmy is a distinguished Chemical Engineering graduatefrom Cairo University who passionately captures theessence of daily life in Arab countries, with a particularemphasis on societies preserving their traditional roots.Her approach combines ethnographic photography tocreate visual narratives that encapsulate the memory ofthe depicted place and its people. Her work has beenrecognized with awards such as the Daniele TamagniGrant, and nominations like for the World Press PhotoJoop Swart masterclass. Fahmy’s photography hasreached international platforms, being showcased atlocations like Cite International des Arts in Paris and thePhotographic Angel Exhibition in the UK. Recently, Fahmyhas joined the ranks of renowned contributors toEveryday Africa & Everyday Egypt.

George Koranteng

Ghana

George is a multi-skilled professional with experience invisual communications, community development,social/digital media management and stakeholderengagement. He has an International developmentbackground with the United Nations including UNFPA,UNESCO and FAO. His work seeks to create value fororganizations and lead/support sustainable developmentinitiatives for impact.

Israa Alrrayah

Sudan

IIsraa Alrrayah is a renowned Sudanese documentary photographer and visual narrator whose work documents the historical, cultural, and social dimensions of life in Sudan and Africa. She began her photography journey in 2016, gained professional momentum in 2023, and has since been lauded internationally. In 2024, she won the Urban African Photography Challenge and was named the Sudan hub scholar by the German Goethe Institute in Egypt. Israa’s photographic collection illuminates public life in Sudan, with a focus on traditional attire, women’s resilience, and climates of war and displacement. She held her first exhibition in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2024 and has since relocated to Cairo to continue her work, documenting the Sudanese people’s adaptation post-war. Her aim is to highlight the positivity and resilience far from conflict, accentuating the significance of human connection.

Lalaina Randriarimanana

Madagascar

As a proud citizen of Africa, Lalaina navigates the world using her Malagasy passport. She advocates for people’s power, drawing on her extensive involvement in youth development and community mobilization since her teenage years. Lalaina is a fervent supporter of social justice and democracy. Her passion extends into her photography, where she gracefully captures everyday life to depict hope, courage, and self-empowerment.

Mahmoud Hashem

Egypt

Mahmoud is an Egyptian journalist with 14 years of experience, whose career has been dedicated to investigative journalism and multimedia storytelling, focusing on justice and human rights issues across Africa and the Middle East. Over the span of his career, Mahmoud has contributed to renowned platforms including Madaar.org, Raseef22, Peoples’ Dispatch, and Shorouk Newspaper. This experience has allowed him to develop his research, analytical, and storytelling abilities. He has also worked alongside global organizations such as France 24, Le Monde Diplomatique, La Libre Belgique, Orient XXI, and Pan African TV. Currently, he is the Media Officer at the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR) and co-founder of Africavoices.net, an initiative dedicated to amplifying the voices of underrepresented African communities.

Mzingenkosi Sibanda

Zimbabwe

Mzingenkosi is a Zimbabwean-born storyteller, journalist, and documentary photographer with a passion for amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. Growing up in Nketa Township, Bulawayo, he was deeply influenced by his grandmother’s stories of resilience and self-determination. Despite financial hardships, he pursued his education through open learning while working as a teacher for five years. His early career in journalism was met with resistance and political hostility in Zimbabwe, prompting him to explore new avenues of activism. This journey led him to photography—a powerful medium to document social issues and drive change. Refining his craft at Market Photo Workshop in Johannesburg, he has since focused on visual activism, particularly highlighting the struggles of immigrants in South Africa. Through his work, he seeks to influence policy and promote a united Afrika where Africans uplift one another rather than being divided by borders.

Oluwayemisi Onadipe

Nigeria

Oluwayemisi Onadipe is an artist whose visual vocabulary cuts across photography, painting, sculpture and installation. Born and living in Lagos where she experienced her childhood, she is fascinated by time, change and memory. She uses her works to capture and interrogate the passage of time, re-imaging of objects and spaces and how change shapes perception and memory. She studied fine and applied arts at Federal College of Education, Lagos.

Reuben Ekow Quansah

Ghana

Ekow Quansah is a Ghana-based African photojournalist and photographer specializing in exploring history and identity through his works. Focused on reevaluating African heritage, his photography embodies the clash between tradition and modernity. His project “Unspoken Bonds” delves into the shifting dynamics of African fatherhood, tackling themes of patriarchy, colonial disruption, and evolving societal roles. In “The Battle”, Quansah highlights the fight against illegal mining in Ghana, emphasizing the resilience of these communities. His most recent work, “Next to Godliness”, looks at the contradiction between strong religious devotion and environmental negligence in society. His work aims to challenge preconceived notions and encourage dialogue and a redefinition of African identity.

Sahl Abdelrahman

Egypt

Sahl Abdelrahman, born in 1999 in El Fayoum, Egypt, is a renowned street and documentary photographer. With a passion for photography from an early age, Sahl honed his skills through studies in photojournalism and documentary photography at DMJX. He uses his lens to capture the everyday life of Egyptians, focussing primarily on children’s issues. His compelling work, which seeks to raise awareness on critical issues like child labor, has been recognized and showcased internationally by celebrated platforms like World Press Photo, Getty Images Reportage, and National Geographic. Sahl’s accolades include top placements at the Egypt Press Photo awards in 2022 and 2020. His works have also been exhibited in Egypt and abroad, including at the Beirut Image Festival and Alserkal Avenue in Dubai.

Samson Otieno

Kenya

Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Samson Otieno is a renowned freelance Photojournalist and documentary photographer, known for his compelling portrayal of ordinary people’s everyday life. Originating from Kibera, he uses his camera to chronicle cultural, environmental, political, and socio-economic narratives. Recognized for his significant contribution to the African Resilience in the Wake of a Pandemic campaign, Otieno has also collaborated with well-known names like Bobby Pall Photography and the MasterCard Foundation amidst the COVID-19 crisis. His work has graced the pages of top- tier media outlets such as The Washington Post, Der Spiegel, Al Jazeera, and The Guardian, and he is a consistent contributor to the Associated Press. Otieno’s outstanding talent further led to his selection as one of 21 internationally acclaimed photographers showcased at the Apfelweingalerie in Frankfurt, Germany.

Tessilim Adjayi

Kenya

Thembela Dick

South Africa

Thembela “Terra” Dick, a Cape Town native, is a seasoned filmmaker, photographer, video editor, educator, and visual activist. With over 15 years of experience, she documents the lives of Black populations in South Africa, emphasizing the youth, women, children, and LGBTIAQ+ community. Terra possesses notable qualifications in photography and filmmaking, and has directed and worked on numerous films, her work reaching over 38 countries. Her storytelling prowess extends to article writing and youth-focused educational projects. Terra currently operates Terra Dick Productions, narrating African stories centered around women, children, and the LGBTIAQ+ community, with NdiliGazilakho/ ( I am your blood), Indlalifa/ (An Heir), and exhibits like Layers of a Black Trans Woman, Thembela the Solo being some of her notable works.

Tinomudaishe Muchirahondo

Zimbabwe

As a highly skilled Zimbabwean filmmaker and photographer, Tinomudaishe Muchirahondo employs his passion for visual storytelling to address societal issues. He specializes in filmography, directing, photography, editing, and production, creating impactful short films and documentaries with a focus on climate change and cultural resilience. Tinomudaishe has been recognized as a top participant in a renowned African storytelling project, furthering his expertise in social justice storytelling. His academic background in film, radio, and television production strengthens his practical skills. Ultimately, Tinomudaishe is dedicated to creating awareness, inspiring change, and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities.

Tirivashe Mundondo

Zimbabwe

Tirivashe Mundondo is a Zimbabwean storyteller and activist dedicated to using narratives as a catalyst for social and political transformation. He documents the impact of governance failures on ordinary citizens while mobilizing communities to organize for change. Through film, digital storytelling, and advocacy, he amplifies marginalized voices and promotes non-violent, grassroots-driven solutions to national challenges. His work focuses on bridging the gap between political discourse and local realities, empowering communities with the tools to demand accountability and drive sustainable development.

Zanele Lebaka

South Africa

Zanele Lebaka is a Johannesburg-based photographer from Aliwal North, Eastern Cape, specializing in portraiture and documentary photography. Her work captures raw moments and overlooked stories, using photography to spark conversation and highlight social issues. A graduate of Market Photo Workshop’s Legacy Project and Photography Incubator Programme, Zanele was also a runner-up on The Lucky Star Collab TV competition. Her work has been exhibited four times, including in Photography and Democracy alongside renowned photographers Cedric Nunn and Pieter Boersma. She continues to explore new ways of storytelling, with her latest project focusing on the water crisis in Aliwal North.