2 Malawian photojournalists feature in global photo book

Work by two Malawian photojournalists has been featured in an international photo book on the Covid-19 pandemic.

The book depicts work by 70 photojournalists from around the world that has been compiled by the US government under an exchange programme called International Visitor Leadership Programme.

Photojournalists Jacob Nankhonya, who works at Nation Publications Limited (NPL) as assistant technical editor and Thoko Chikondi, a freelancer and former NPL employee, have featured in the book titled A Global Moment in Time through their works depicting highlights of the impact of the pandemic in Malawi.

The book was launched last week in Washington DC where the two were in attendance and, according to them, this has given them an opportunity to showcase their work to the larger community globally.

Said Chikondi, “Honestly speaking, it is not every day that one gets their work recognised at an international level. This has given us an opportunity to have our work engraved in international diplomacy with the US government.”

On his part, Nankhonya hailed the opportunity of not only contributing to the photo book, but also of having to join the 70 photojournalists from around the world in a year-long collaborative project and networking both virtually and in person.

The two have been participating in the photo book project as part of an exchange programme that has been running virtually since last year.

The US Department of State has been working with World Learning in designing and implementing a special programme for photojournalists called A Global Moment in Time which falls under International Visitors Lleadership Programme.

It is through this programme that the photo book project was conceptualised.

World Learning chief executive officer Carol Jenkins said: the book, A Global Moment in Time, explored the role of photojournalism in civil discourse, public opinion, and the public understanding of how Covid-19 has disrupted society and how it has brought people and organisations together.

She expressed pride in having the honour of working with the State Department on the design and implementation of this hybrid project for over 70 photojournalists from over 50 countries.

Said Jenkins: “For us at World Learning, today’s opening of A Global Moment in Time is a double celebration of our commitment to international exchanges and the goals of the International Visitors Leadership Programme, especially during difficult times like the Covid-19 pandemic. We congratulate and thank the photojournalists for their dedication, talent, experience, and stunning and evocative photography which captured the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on communities across the globe.” According to her, through the images, the photojournalists had immortalised feelings, gestures, and profound human responses to the pandemic experience, helping the world to see that there is more that connects the people in the world than what divides them.