Resilient eSwatini photographer Siphephile Sibanyoni publishes a book about indigenous cultures of various communities on the African continent

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

I first encountered this body of work, while living in Maboneng during the pandemic in 2020, and I was struck by the commitment that went into producing such powerful photography by a female photographer. Siphephile Sibanyoni self-funded a trip around the African continent. Travelling on her own, documenting various communities in their localities. Various cultures of indigenous communities are well captured by these photographs.

Indeed the images are something to collect, particularly if they are in a coffee table book, I thought at the time after Eswatini born, but South African based photographer shared these images with CITYLIFE/ARTS. You can read the article that we published in 2020 about the series here. Siphephile Sibanyoni, a photographer dedicated to documenting the lives of indigenous people of Africa – CityLife Arts

I must say though that I was happy this past week, when Siphephile Sibanyoni contacted me to tell me the good news. That she has eventually managed to publish a coffee table book of those images as well as poetry and text. The book is titled The Last Defenders, just like the series.

Now discerning collectors can get a copy of this book, which comes out highly recommended. Here CITYLIFE/ARTS publishes a selection of some images from the book, which is available on amazon, and can be shipped to you directly after ordering one and paying.

.The Last Defender by Siphephile Sibanyoni in a coffee table format, is available on Amazon. The price is R889.39.