Black-and-White Photography in Batcham: From a Golden Age to Decline (1970–1990)

Abstract

In this article, I explore the biographies of three professional black-and-white photographers of the 1970s from Batcham, West Cameroon. They are Edouard Fofou, alias Photo-Edouard; Michel Kenne, also known as Photo-Kmichel and Gaspard Vincent Tatang, alias Tagavince. They and their work stands as an example of the very many African photographers whose work could be archived but probably will not be. If we know of a few celebrated names like Malik Sidibe but not Vincent Tatang it is as much by chance as anything else. This then is an exploration of a possible but unrealized archive. What we could call an archival path not taken.

Keywords:

• Edouard Fofou
• Alias Photo-Edouard
• Michel Kenne
• Alias Photo-Kmichel
• Gaspard Vincent Tatang
• Alias Tagavince
• African Studio Photographers
• Photographic Archives

Notes

[1] There is a large literature on biography and life writing in anthropology and history. Zeitlyn (2008) provides an introductory survey.

[2] For more information on the origins of this village, see Kenne Fouédong (1991).

[3] For discussion of the creation of this subdivision, see Tatsitsa (1996, 3).

[4] For more information on Bamiléke emigration toward Nkongsamba, see Guiffo (1992, 105).

[5] Note: the interview with Gaspard Tatang was conducted in French.

[6] Then worth 3000 French Francs, c $700 in 1975.

[7] Edouard Fofou, personal interview, 5 November 2012, Batcham.

[8] The Compagnie de l'Ouest Cameroun (COC) was the largest coffee farm in West Cameroon (2400 ha) owned by group of French investors. They also ran a savings bank (see Uwizeyimana 2009, 333).

[9] The nickname borrows the name of a French aviator from the 1930s.

[10] The interviews with Edouard Fofou and Michel Kenne were conducted in Ngyemba (the local Bamiléké dialect). I transcribed the Ngyemba and then translated it into French.

[11] A first step is the recent thesis (Mboulla 2014).