© Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Tom peeping, 1989

eye Africa is the first-ever festival of African photography taking place in Cape Town during the months from December to February. It consists of two main exhibitions, curated by the Paris-based cultural magazine Revue Noire, held at the South African National Gallery and the Castle of Good Hope.

These exhibitions explore the many different forms and varied styles of African photography from 1840 to the present day. They are complemented by various other 'fringe' exhibitions of contemporary South African photographers, held at venues throughout the city.

eye Africa is the first substantial collection of photography dedicated to showcasing the rich and diverse history of this medium on the African continent. The 350 photographs on show criss-cross the broad spectrum of African photography, from its birth in 1840 to the photojournalism and more experimental work of today, from Addis Ababa to Dakar, from Tananarivo to Luanda, from Bamako to Cape Town.

The South African National Gallery hosts the historical component of the exhibition, while the Castle of Good Hope (Block B) shows the contemporary component.

The photographs on show at these two venues are the culmination of seven years of research by Revue Noire. Established in 1991, this quarterly journal showcases developments in contemporary African culture, thus aiming to promote and raise awareness of the rich cultural heritage on this continent. This ground-breaking exhibition is funded by the Delegation of the European Union in South Africa through the CWCI Fund.

Photographic workshops, slide shows and discussion groups have been organised to generate debate about photography and pass on much-needed skills.

The two main exhibitions trace developments in African photography in the context of a changing social world. The range of photography is divided up as follows:

The Precursors c. 1840 Photography was introduced to Africa via European photographers, who set up studios in large trading centres. The European fashion of presenting a photograph as a calling card and the ownership of a personal photo album spread quickly in the major trading centres of Africa. Photography was regarded with suspicion in isolated rural areas, however. Meissa Gaye and Mama Casset (both Senegalese) started taking photographs in 1912 and 1920.

Studio Portrait Photography c. 1900 The need for a population census in many countries in Africa forced each individual to step in front of the lens. A remarkable picture taken by Antoine Freitas show this process in action in the Bena Mulumba village square in Kassai, where a Congolese photographer arranges four women in front of a backdrop and the villagers crowd around curiously. In town studios portraiture was becoming increasingly popular. Photographs became important memoirs recording personal milestones and family events. At the SANG, see the work of Mama Casset (Senegal), Seydou Keita (Mali), Ramilijaona (Madagascar), Abderramane Sakaly (Mali), the Boyadjian brothers, and the later portraiture of Depara, Samuel Fosso and Bobby Bobson. The stark portraits of Cornelius Yao Augustt Azaglo (Ivory Coast) appear at the Castle.

The Emergence of a Lifestyle c. 1960 In the 1960s photographers left the confines of their studios to document the emerging lifestyles in their cities. The photographs on show at the Castle speak of the vibrant social lives of city inhabitants - on the streets, at parties and clubs. See the work of Ricardo Rangel (Mozambique), Philippe Koudjina (Niger), Billy Monk (South Africa) and Malick Sibide (Mali).

Images of the City With the rapid urbanisation of African countries, photographers began to examine the dynamics of city life and the daily struggles of people trying to find a place therein. At the Castle see Dorris Haron Kasco (Ivory Coast), Bouna Medoune Seye (Senegal), Pierrot Men (Madagascar), Santu Mofokeng and Andrew Tshabangu (both South Africa).

Committed Photographers and News Photographers post-1960 This collection of photographs at the Castle bears testimony to the struggles for state power and the human rights violations of oppressive regimes. See John Liebenberg (South Africa), Alexander Joe (Zimbabwe) and Afrapix (a collective started in 1982).

Margins to Mainstream A selection of photographs from the exhibition of the same name, these works in the genre of social documentary were produced during the apartheid era. See the photographs of Ernest Cole, Bob Gosani, Willie de Klerk, Ranjith Kally, Eli Weinberg and Leon Levson.

Contemporary Photography The more experimental work of photographers delving into the creative aspects of the medium are shown at the Castle. Some of this work is marked by a quest for identity or by a desire to question and highlight issues of representation. See the work of Rotimi Fani-Kayode (Nigeria), Chris Ledochowski, Julia Tiffin , Penny Siopis, Zwelethu Mthethwa, Dave Southwood, Adam Welz (all South Africa), Rui Tavares and Antoni Ole (both Angola). See also the photographs produced for the Cape Times' One City Many Cultures project.