Bassam by Kimberly Hawmmond

Bassam is a seaside town near Abidjan. The “Quartier France” neighborhood is rich in history, artisans, and architecture. We chose this inspiring location, together with photographer Kimberly Hawmmond, as the setting for a photo shoot featuring the artist Lafalaise Dion. Having access to former colonial sites such as the 1909 trading post and the former building of the Compagnie Française de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CFAO) gave me the opportunity to learn a little more about my country’s history and to reconnect with these places through an artistic lens, while remaining mindful of the past.  
It’s important to note that Bassam was the first colonial capital of Côte d’Ivoire until 1899, and that December 24, 1949, marks a pivotal moment in the country’s anti-colonial struggle with “the Women’s March.” 

Photos by Kimberly Hawmmond.

The Bassam Ceramics Center - While scouting locations for this photo shoot, we went to the Ceramics Center. Given the color palette of the space, we thought it would be a perfect match for one of the outfits. So we met with the center’s director to ask for permission to take a few photos. It turned out that, after a long and heartfelt conversation, this gentleman had lived with my great-grandfather in Daloa—a city in the central-western part of the country—when he was younger. He was so happy about this encounter and welcomed us with open arms, just as my great-grandfather had done for him back then.