To celebrate Mashujaa Day, Google has launched the largest online exhibition dedicated to the life and legacy of photojournalist Mohamed Amin – as part of Google Arts & Culture continued commitment to preserving and sharing Kenya’s rich heritage.
Mo Amin is one of Africa’s most celebrated photojournalists whose compelling and compassionate footage of the Ethiopian famine sparked aid, We Are the World live concert that raised $127 Million. He spent his lifetime chasing big stories in Africa covering, the handover of Kenya by the British to Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the revolution in Zanzibar, East Africa’s Safari Rally, amongst others.
The year-long digitisation project has been jointly implemented by Google Arts & Culture and the Mohamed Amin Foundation. Spearheaded by Salim Amin, the online exhibition ‘Mo Amin: Eye of Africa’ shines light on four decades of the Kenyan photojournalist’s career and allows audiences to explore over 6,000 photographs and more than 50 stories representing a visual journey of the key moments, places and people that he documented in the late 20th century.
Speaking at the launch, Amb. (Dr.) Amina Mohamed, E.G.H., Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture & Heritage said, “Mo Amin: Eye of Africa’ is a celebration of the life, work and legacy of Mohamed Amin, one of Kenya’s greatest sons. This is yet another instalment towards providing universal access to Kenya’s culture and heritage in Ethiopia Google Arts & Culture platform.”
Amit Sood, Director of Google Arts & Culture said, “This year on Mashujaa Day, we celebrate a Kenyan who is a hero not only for Kenya, but for the world. Mo Amin has impacted many lives – I will never forget Mo’s photos of the tragic famine in Ethiopia and how the world came together after. It has been an honour to work with Salim, the son of the late Mo Amin, to uncover his father’s archive and make it accessible online to the public. We are incredibly excited to share stories and photos that have never been seen before, and celebrate Mo Amin’s legacy on Mashujaa Day with Kenya and the world.”
Explore the Mo Amin Archive on Google Arts and Culture.