IMAN SEBUNYA

Iman Sebunya (b. 1988) is a photographer currently based in New Orleans.  She grew up of Ugandan/German parents in various settings all across the African continent. Waterford Kamhlaba, United World College, Swaziland is where she matriculated from High School. This school, established as an act of anti-apartheid and broader anti racism in the 1960s, welcomed students of all races, religions and finanacial backgrounds. By the time Iman attended - it educated a powerful cross section of very academically gifted students from across the globe regardless of economic background due to Its great bursary program. Some well known Waterford Kamhlaba graduates include; the children of Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Desmond Tutu, Nobel prize-winning novelist Nadine Gordimer, the first President of Botswana Sir Seretse Khama, and the revolutionary leaders of Mozambique Samora Machel and Eduardo Mondlane. Waterford Kamhlaba allowed Iman to develop a nuanced world view of identity and belonging. She started experimenting with both photography and visual art and her capstone International Baccalaureate study focused on the decommissioned weapons of war to sculpture movement in neighboring Mozambique. She anchored her research on Gonçalo Mabunda's practice and creations. It seems entirely fitting that they now, over 12 years later, are highlighted side by side by aKAZ!ATL.   

With a curiosity and passion born through childhood experiences as well as high school exposure to very non traditional settings, Iman comes to life in the unconventional cities of the African Diaspora. She is passionate about capturing what she sees in her surroundings, and in her exhibited work thus far, she brings to life scenes from the streets of Dakar and New Orleans. For example, while living amongst the Koranic school children of Dakar while doing her postgraduate research into alternative forms of education for Teachers College, Columbia University, she captured the vibrancy of children who are educated at these Islamic Daaras. In their 'free time' these young scholars roam the streets of Dakar in search of alms.She roamed the 'quartier' of Medina with them for weeks, documenting what their lives look like outside of formalized religious instruction.

Iman first arrived in New Orleans in 2012 as part of a TeachNOLA cohort of young recent graduate teachers. As soon as she stepped foot in this city, she realized that it incorporated all of the African Diaspora and beyond and she fell in love. After some years in New York, she returned to New Orleans where she currently works in the field of education.

She feels so privileged to live in yet another fabled city of the African Diaspora spending much of her free time documenting the very special New Orleans street life. She worries about the culture of New Orleans slipping away because of the forces of gentrification and commodification of the special brand that is New Orleans though she is heartened by the inter-generational passing of cultural knowledge and heritage she witnesses in her New Orleans classrooms. She seeks to channel and infuse the subjects of her photographic portraiture with the agency, life force, innovation and resilience they clearly possess.

Some of Iman’s work is currently on view at our Haugabrooks Gallery, please schedule a visit to view.