Dr Folasayo Olalere (E&I) recently co-edited a book titled Camera in Times of Crisis: Focus on Africa, along with two other editors: Dr Kehinde Adewumi and Prof. Giles Duniya. The book is a response to the multidimensional crises that postcolonial Africa has witnessed since the latter part of the 20th century through to the present day. Drawing on case studies from diverse African contexts, the book unravels the multi-layered tendencies of the camera as a tool for constructing and legitimising narratives; for agency, advocacy, and activism, yet also for perpetuating stereotypes and manipulating for influence and power.
Within the broader coverage of the book, Folasayo’s contributions include an editorial chapter titled Dichotomy of the Camera as a Tool for Representation and Agency in Times of Crises. In the chapter, he foregrounds the ambivalent power of the lens as both witness and actor during crises, offering a critical reflection on seeing and being seen in moments of upheaval, challenging subjective framings, and affirming dynamic visual sovereignty in representation and agency.
The book is published by Emerald Publishing Limited and can be accessed through this link: https://www.emerald.com/books/edited-volume/16936/Camera-in-Times-of-Crisis-Focus-on-Africa