
Michaël
Michaël Zumstein

biography

Michaël Zumstein, French-Swiss photographer and director, based in Paris (France)
After graduating from the Ecole Supérieure de Photographie de Vevey, Michaël Zumstein takes a plane off to a long initiatory journey through Africa. With more than 20 years of experience in reporting different types of groups, societies and populations, in Africa and in France, his work is in the tradition of investigative photojournalism, combining documentary realism and graphic writing to reveal interactions between individuals and show beyond the cliché.
As a keen observer of Africa for the press, for NGOs or for his personal projects, he looks at “the ambiguous relations between Africa and the West”, at conflicts and political events, but also at daily life in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Sudan, Senegal, Mali, Niger, or Central African Republic.
In 2014, he begins a large-scale project on the crisis in the Central African Republic “Of terror and tears” which will be exhibited at the Visa pour l’image Festival: “The reasons for the ordeal of the Central African Republic are complex and profound. Michaël is interested in history in its entirety. Tries to understand it. To explain it. With discretion and humility, he is one of the most attentive witnesses of the Central African crisis. Through his photos, Michaël Zumstein succeeds in restoring to us the state of this state that no longer exists.” (Cyril Bensimon, journalist).
In fact, violence is indeed present in the images of Michaël Zumstein but more evoked than shown frontally: “Ultra-violence sometimes diverts the vision of the whole and removes the narrative side of the story that is given to see” he says.
Faced with the importance, diversity and complexity of the subjects he documents, he multiplies his travels, investigations, but also the mediums to become the most accurate witness of the situations he is confronted with: in 2013, he started the project “Good Friends” which mixes photos and videos to address the difficult reconciliation that must be carried out by the different Ivorian camps; in 2019 he actively participated in Boris Lojkine’s feature film “Camille”; in 2020 he obtained the first Canon grant for the video documentary short film that will allow him to realize his project on the organization of Miss Central Africa in a country affected by outbreaks of violence.
Regularly published in the French and international press, Michaël Zumsteim is the winner of 2 Swiss Press Awards: the 3rd Swiss Press Photo Award abroad in 2014 for “Chaos in Central Africa” and in 2019 the 1st Swiss Press Photo Award abroad, for “Life after Boko Haram”.
Series


On the movie set of Camille, Central African Republic, 2019

Those who leaves, 2016

On the Road of Sub-Saharan Migrants, 2016

Bamako, The Downloaders, 2015

Trafficking Bolabola Rosewood, 2015

Central African Republic, The Wages of Fear, 2014

Crisis in Central African Republic, 2014

Two presidents for one country, 2011

AKA ZIDANE, 2019

On the movie set of Camille, Central African Republic, 2019

Those who leaves, 2016

On the Road of Sub-Saharan Migrants, 2016

Bamako, The Downloaders, 2015

Trafficking Bolabola Rosewood, 2015

Central African Republic, The Wages of Fear, 2014

Crisis in Central African Republic, 2014

Two presidents for one country, 2011

AKA ZIDANE, 2019

On the movie set of Camille, Central African Republic, 2019

Those who leaves, 2016

On the Road of Sub-Saharan Migrants, 2016

Bamako, The Downloaders, 2015

Trafficking Bolabola Rosewood, 2015

Central African Republic, The Wages of Fear, 2014

Crisis in Central African Republic, 2014

Two presidents for one country, 2011
multimedias

Bringing Albert Home, 2022

Une caravane en hiver, 2020

Ivory Coast: When Police Rob, 2020

Bons amis, 2013

With the christians of Chad, 2012

3 Sticks of Chalk, 2012

Bringing Albert Home, 2022

Une caravane en hiver, 2020

Ivory Coast: When Police Rob, 2020

Bons amis, 2013

With the christians of Chad, 2012

3 Sticks of Chalk, 2012

Bringing Albert Home, 2022

Une caravane en hiver, 2020

Ivory Coast: When Police Rob, 2020

Bons amis, 2013

With the christians of Chad, 2012

3 Sticks of Chalk, 2012
Interviews
“Aka Zidane”, un photoreportage sur les maillots de foot en Afrique
TV5Monde
—
Interview on the TV channel TV5Monde, 2022
A meeting with the photographer Michael Zumstein about his photographic work which has been assembled in his book Aka Zidane, published by Images Plurielles earlier this year.
La vie après Boko Haram
Swiss Press Photo
—
2019
Interview with Michaël Zumstein who went to Niger, in Goudoumaria, for a report on a center that welcomes the repentant of Boko Haram. In this centre, attempts are being made to reintegrate repentant fighters from the Islamist terrorist sect. Some prefer to remain anonymous, and others show their faces. There is also a section reserved for women.
Une photo, un auteur
Visa pour l’Image
—
2014
At Visa pour l’Image, Michaël Zumstein presents his work in the exhibition “Centrafrique. Of terror and tears”. Ten days after the attack launched by anti-Balaka militiamen on Bangui, Michael Zumstein met with young Christian rebels.
Michaël Zumstein à Visa pour l’Image
L’Obs
—
Interview by Tancrède Bonora, 2014
On the occasion of the Visa pour l’image de Perpignan festival, photojournalist Michaël Zumstein looks back on his reports in Central Africa.
Centrafrique de terreur et de larmes
France 3 Occitanie
—
2014
In 2012, Michaël Zumstein was in Central Africa at the heart of the conflict between Christian and Muslim militias. He spent 6 months in this country, moving from one camp to another in order to show the backstage.
Dignité
Elizabeth Kelly
—
2014
Interview with photographer Michaël Zumstein about his photo series documenting housing injustices in the rapidly growing city of Lagos, Nigeria. This video is one in a 6-part series of interviews with contributors to Dignity, a photographic exhibition sponsored by Amnesty International focused on humanitarian issues around the world.
Côte d’Ivoire, la démocratie par les armes
Arte
—
2013
Michaël Zumstein followed the outcome of the Ivorian conflict in the heart of Abidjan. Although calm has returned, it still remains calm: Alassane Ouatara has been invested President of the Republic promising to gather all the Ivorian people. This task will be difficult after the violence that has taken place between each side.
Exhibitions
“Aka Zidane”
—
13th International Photography Festival – Cortona On The Move
—
From July 13 to October 1, 2023
Book

Aka Zidane

Aka Zidane

Aka Zidane
awards
Canon 2020 Grant for short Film (France)
For his film “Bangui la coquette”
2020

Swiss Press Photo – 1st Prize, World category (Swiss)
For his subject: “La vie après Boko Haram”.
2019

POY (Pictures Of the Year) – Award of Excellence
For his subject: “Terror and tears in Central African Republic”
2014