South African photojournalists Sumaya Hisham and Eric Miller talk with Elizabeth Howard about documenting and celebrating, through their photographs, the life and work of the late Archbishop and Noble Peace Prize Laureate, Desmond Tutu, who, with Nelson Mandela, led the struggle against Apartheid. They describe their lasting friendship with the man they affectionately refer to as "the Arch." He would say to us, they recall, "If it wasn't for the photographers and journalists during the Apartheid period they would say we were lying." "Desmond Tutu: Then and Now" was recently on view in galleries at the South African Cultural Center in New York.
Sumaya Hisham is a freelance photojournalist based in Cape Town. She is passionate about capturing images of people in their daily lives. She covers news and cultural events for a variety of clients, including news agencies such as Reuters, the European Press Photo Agency, and Getty Images. Her work has appeared in Washington Post, LA Times, Times UK, Irish Times, Guardian, and Newsweek. She works with the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation to continue to share his legacy of compassion, forgiveness and resolving conflict through peaceful means.
Eric Miller is a documentary photographer who has worked in South Africa and across Africa. He began his career during the struggle against Apartheid in the 1980's, working during that period for the progressive photo collective Afrapix, documenting Apartheid's oppression. In the post-Apartheid period, he has worked across Africa on assignment for many publications in North America and Europe and has been widely published in publications ranging from Time and Newsweek to newspapers including New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, among many others.
The hymn used at the end of the conversation is "Thato ya hao." We are told it was Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s favorite hymn. You can find a video featuring Imilonji Kantu Choral on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm9PlOz3MOE.
Alex Waters is a technical producer for the Short Fuse Podcast. He is a music producer and a student at the Berklee College of Music. He has written and produced music and edited for podcasts including The Faith and Chai Podcast and Con Confianza. He writes, produces and records music for independent artists, including The Living. Alex lives in Brooklyn. You can reach him at alexwatersmusic12@gmail.com.