French photographer, Youri Lenquette, famous for taking the last professional picture of singer, Kurt Cobain, has turned his lens to African musicians.
Lenquette’s interest in African music and musicians dated back to the Cobain’s suicide in 1994, and has since increased his interests.
His latest exhibition is displayed in Dakar — called ‘Youri doesn’t sleep’. Lenquette’s photographs show Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evora in a neighbourhood bar — and Senegalese rapper Fou Malade popping out of a suitcase.
Yet Lenquette’s images were never meant to hang on a gallery wall.
The undisputed king of Senegal’s music scene, Youssou Ndour, has called him a friend since they met in Paris in the early 1990s.
Youri Lenquette has settled in West Africa with his Senegalese wife and two children.
He has no regrets about swapping the stars of Western music — for those of the African continent
Author
