Hamdia Traoré, documentaty photographer based in Bamako, Mali

Hamdia was born on December 31st, 1992 in Djenné in the Mopti region. Photography burst into his life 12 years later when in 2004 he started working with a cousin who was a studio photographer named Alassane Diarra in Djenné. Since then his passion has continued to grow.

That passion that drove him led him to pursue training in digital photography and image processing software at Espace Photo Partage in Bamako, with teachers Patrick Ertel and Emmanuel Bakary DAOU, after his studies in accounting at the Centre de Formation Professionnel Vitré-Djenné from 2012 to 2016.

The year 2013 was the starting point for a total immersion in the field of photography. Indeed, well before the end of his studies in accounting, he obtained a diploma in conservation of art on paper and photography, during a workshop organized by the Centre de Formation en Photographie (CFP) in Bamako.

The workshop was led by Ms. Helda Q. S. SHOEMAKER, a curator of art on paper and photography in the United States. It was also during this year that Hamdia Traoré began to devote a large part of his work to illustrating the complexity of the social rituals of his community of origin. Since 2013, he has been carrying out documentary photography work on the city where he comes from and illustrates all possible occurrences: the marabouts, the plastering of the mosque, the pirogue races, etc.

In 2016, he participated in a training course in reportage photography organized by the Direction du Développement et de la Coopération (DDC) in Mali, in collaboration with Samuel Sidibé of the National Museum of Mali and Alassana Igo Diarra of the Médina gallery in Bamako, under the direction of the talented Swiss photographer Dominic Nahr. He has also been a freelancer since the same year for the African photojournalism database, an initiative of the World Press Photo Foundation.

From time to time, he wears the hat of photographer consultant for many organizations and collaborates with the Embassy of the United States of America in Mali, the Embassy of Denmark in Mali, the Embassy of Great Britain in Mali, the Delegation of the European Union in Mali, the Consulate of Monaco in Mali, O&S Agence Conseil and the SANLAM Assurance Mali group.

He has also documented work for SPANA, TREE AID, Sightsavers, DevWorks, Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (VSF) Belgium and the Organisation pour la Prévention de la Cécité (OPC) and international non-profit organisations. He works for ANADOLU IMAGES, a photojournalism image agency based in Türkiye.

Publication

• In 2019, he published a photo book with Carpe Diem publishing house, representing his work on "Le Crépissage de la Mosquée de Djenné," funded by Swiss cooperation in Mali.

PRIX

• 2023 // Documentary project “Des Marabouts de Djenné” selected for the collection of the Block Museum - Northwestern University, in the United States of America.
• 2019 // Sélectionné parmi les artistes pour la 12ème édition des rencontres de Bamako, biennale africaine de la photographie. Selected among the artists for the 12th edition of the Bamako meetings, African photography biennial.
• 2015 // Winner of Documentary AWARDS, by «HUMANITY PHOTO AWARDS» in Shangri-La, China.

How would you describe yourself in a few sentences?

I am Hamdia Traoré, a visual artist and documentary photographer. I live and work in Bamako, Mali, as a freelance professional. I run my own photo and video agency based in Bamako. I collaborate with humanitarian NGOs around the world.

How did you first get into photography?

I discovered photography alongside my cousin, Mr. Alassane DIARRA, a studio photographer in my hometown of Djenné. That’s where my passion was born. My very first role model in photography was Mr. Diango CISSÉ, a Malian photographer known for his postcard-style images—his work deeply inspired me.

My second major influence was the late Patrick Ertel, a French photographer who became much more than a mentor. Between 2012 and 2015 in Bamako, he taught me the fundamentals of general photography and introduced me to image editing software. Their guidance and influence have left a lasting mark on my journey, and it’s thanks to them that I continue to pursue this art with heart and dedication.

What type(s) of photography do you specialize in, and why did you choose this niche?

I specialized in artistic documentary photography. My style has evolved over time as I’ve worked with many international NGOs and embassies accredited in Mali. I’ve also carried out personal projects that have been exhibited and collected by major museums.

What’s the one achievement or moment in your photography career that you’re most proud of?

In 2015, when I went to Shangri-la in China to receive the Documentary Award by «HUMANITY PHOTO AWARDS» among thousands of professional photographers coming from all parts of the world.

What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a photographer, and how did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge I faced as a photographer was in 2012, when I left my hometown, Djenné, for Bamako in search of more photography experience. That same year, I took the entrance exam for the "Centre de Formation en Photographie" (CFP). Unfortunately, I was expelled from the school due to damage to some equipment. Despite that, I didn’t give up because I had a clear goal: to become a photographer. I then continued my training with photographer Patrick Ertel, who was my mentor until 2015.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting their photography journey, what would it be?

My advice for a beginner photographer: Have passion for what you are doing, respect senior photographers, work hard and be serious about the work.