Amsterdam | Framer Framed
Thu 3 October – Fri 11 October
Official opening Saturday
October 5, 13h00

Amado Alfadni is an Egyptian-born Sudanese visual artist. Askari Soldiers is an exhibition on the history of the Askari (Arabic and Swahili for military soldier). The Askari are the enslaved Sudanese soldiers who served in the European colonial armies in Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries. During both world wars, the Askaris also served in the Middle East and Asia under European leadership. With Askari Soldiers, Alfadni criticises the idea of the enslaved Sudanese soldier and condemns the existence of negative stereotypes of black Africans. Askari Soldiers consists of edited digital photographs and images from colonial archives through which Alfadni visualises his Sudanese heritage.

Through his work, Amado Alfadni looks at forgotten historical events and raises questions about the power dynamics between the individual and authorities on a social and political level. Alfadni identifies as half-Sudanese, half-Egyptian but did not see these two parts of his identity reflected equally in his environment. Monuments of Egyptian Arab history manifested themselves clearly through pyramids, mosques and citadels. While his African Sudanese history was more difficult to reflect. By using images from colonial archives in his work, he makes his Sudanese heritage visible. He explores the hidden history that makes up a large part of African history and depicts it in several of his works. A selection of his works can be seen during the festival.

The visit of Amado Alfadni is made possible by the International Visitors Programme of the Nieuwe Instituut with support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs