Canon is celebrating the 10-year milestone of its Miraisha programme, which creates jobs in Africa by offering workshops for photographers, videographers, filmmakers and print business owners.
In line with Canon’s brand philosophy Kyosei, which means living together and working for the common good, the name ‘Miraisha’ is a fusion of Japanese and Swahili: Mirai, meaning ‘future’ in Japanese, and Maisha, meaning ‘livelihood’ in Swahili.
Established in 2014, the Miraisha program has trained more than 7,000 professionals across Africa’s 54 countries, boosting their skills and creativity, securing employment or setting up their own businesses.
Since its conception, the program has established 33 partnerships with various organizations including the Kenya Film Commission, Uganda Press Photo Awards, the National Film and TV Institute of Ghana, and aims to train 10,000 participants by 2027.
Despite a rich visual history, and the Nigerian film industry, or Nollywood, being second only to Bollywood in terms of production (with over 2,500 films a year), a lack of funding for visual arts education for young people means that careers for most are not available. young people.
As part of a program of activities to celebrate the 10th anniversary, aspiring photographers over the age of 18 across Africa have the opportunity to submit their work for review by Rodney Quarcoo, Michel Lunaga and Michael Asaad at the Canin Miraisha Portfolio Review .
This is a unique opportunity for young photographers to hone their skills and gain insights and constructive advice on their work from leading industry professionals.
The Canon Miraisha program project saw The NRB Bus, Baru Collective, Pwani University and The GoBlue Project working with young people in the coastal areas of Kenya. The workshops aimed to support, but also shape, young photographers and videographers in sharpening their skills, realizing their potential and preserving their cultural heritage.
One participant said, “It taught me a lot about the camera, how to use it effectively and how to understand lighting.”
They found the hands-on experience invaluable, learning not only technical aspects but also creative elements such as composition and lighting. Another student said, “I learned how to use the camera, how to hold it still, and how to take compelling photos.”
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