Nikon Photographer Bobby Pall Launches A Stunning New Book

Kenyan photographer Bobby Pall in partnership with Nikon Kenya launched a book, Vanishing Songs of the Warriors last week at Village Market. The book showcases the life of Kenyan communities living in remote areas.

Pall explained that the book was inspired from a collection of past projects he had worked on that involved photographing Kenyan communities using his Nikon camera.

“I was assigned to do a project in Meru, and they introduced me to this tribe, the Borana. They were dancing the ostrich courtship dance, and I think it was a dance to buy my heart.” said Paul. ”Trust me – they did. So I went back again to do this project, only to realise, ‘Who is really talking about where we come from?’ Because if these walls could speak they would tell us, and the skies have no recollection. Someone’s got to write and someone’s got to document.”

Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed delivering the keynote address.

Among the attending guests was Education CS, Amina Mohammed who delivered the keynote address. “It’s a depiction of beauty, of strength, of depth, of dignity, of truth, and the values of people united by land and culture,” Mohammed said of the book, explaining that she was likely one of the first people to see it. “Our people have suffered the colonisation of diversity and minimalisation of a way of life that goes beyond material wealth to the breadth and depth of the human heart…Bobby’s work is a systematic and beautiful account of the ordinary lives of some of the most extraordinary communities in modern day East Africa.”

Nikon Photographer Bobby Pall and His Excellency Erasmo Martinez, the Mexican Ambassador to Kenya.

“He’s a person very much interested in humanity, in people and in his own country,” said His Excellency Erasmo Martinez, The Mexican Ambassador to Kenya. “I immediately felt a very good connection with him and I realised that we both share the same love of this country and its people. For me it has been a real privilege to have met him and I really admire his work.”

Nikon was proud to sponsor the event, and Nikon East and Central Africa Business Development Manager Sunny Sharma explained their commitment to helping Kenyan photographers tell Kenyan stories. He explained that when Nikon began to focus on Africa, it started its efforts in Kenya. Sharma also highlighted efforts to promote the country’s photography culture, like Nikon School, a programme that offers free classes to Nikon photographers.

Nikon East and Central Africa Business Development Manager Sunny Sharma discussing Kenya’s photography community.

Vanishing Songs of the Warriors is published by Footprints Press and is the culmination of many years of work. Pall’s friends and peers were eager to celebrate his skill and dedication, and to acknowledge the passion that has lead to his success.

Visit Bobby Pall’s studio at Village Market and his Facebook page to learn more about his works and get your copy of Vanishing Songs of the Warriors. Learn more about Nikon School here and follow Nikon on Facebook and Instagram for more updates from Kenya’s photography community.

Story first appeared on ISL