David Pace: Burkina Faso
Saunter around this small, landlocked country
“Two of my colleagues from Santa Clara University formed a non-profit organization called Friends of African Village Libraries in Burkina Faso in 2001. Burkina Faso has one of the world’s lowest literacy rates and FAVL builds small libraries in rural villages to help address this problem. In 2007 my colleagues invited me to visit them while they were doing research and asked me to photograph the libraries. That was my first trip to Africa and my first experience of village life. I began taking portraits of the villagers and documenting everyday activities. It was a life changing experience. Over the years I have developed several ongoing photographic projects in various parts of Burkina Faso. The Bereba Portraits and Friday Night portfolios are all shot in and around the village of Bereba in the southwest. The photographs of the Kiosks and the Tabtenga Quarry are taken on the central plateau near Ouagadougou, the capital.” – David Pace
