Samuel Fosso wins the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2023

Diane Smyth | British Journal of Photography | 11th May 2023

Cameroon-born Fosso has long been regarded as a leading figure in African photography. Even before Cindy Sherman was creating her alternate identities, Fosso was making self-portraits while dressed up as someone he had seen in a magazine. His objective wasn’t political but rather to “tell stories” and, through that, question what is meant by identity. This rather workmanlike review is the best of a limited bunch, somewhat surprising for a prize (and recipient) of such prestige.