South African artist, photographer, videographer and blogger Anthony Bila is our FAB choice for today’s #TalentTuesday focus with particular attention on his “Black History March” photography project.
With a mission of bringing Africa to the world & the world to Africa, Anthony Bila calls himself The Expressionist and we agree. His “Black History March” photography project had us amazed at the thoughtfulness that went into the project. With his just completed Volume 1 of the project, the commemorative work was made by Anthony as an ode to black history. Anthony collaborated with LIA (Love is African) a collective from South Africa and Namibia who play the roles in his photographic series.
According to Anthony Bila, speaking about his latest work, “I purposefully released this project a month after the actual Black History Month traditionally held in February to dispel the notion that black history needs a month of commemoration, but rather that it should be highlighted as any other part of history, at every given opportunity.”
A colourful poem accompanies the project:
Lest we forget, lest we ever forget
Blood bleeds from our own hands,
Lest we live with regrets, live bitter regret
Blood on the leaves, seeps into the land
Seeds fed on the sweat of black brows
Blood bled from fallen angels on ominous clouds
Graves whitewashed they forgot
But black history marched on
Stained and ingrained in mind from hand
So much we overcame, so few understand
Lynched.
Burned.
Murdered.
Buried and forgotten in shallow graves
Chained and enslaved
A little change makes it all stay the same
New chains, economic new slaves
Graves whitewashed they forgot
But black history kept marching on
Sophisticated slavery & invisible shackles
The war wages on, battle after battle
How will you experience emancipation
When the mansion you lust for,
was built on the damned plantation
Graves whitewashed they forgot
But black history keeps marching on.
by 
This is a deep brother! Love the works I see of him so far and this quote from his post rings volumes According to Anthony Bila, speaking about his latest work, “I purposefully released this project a month after the actual Black History Month traditionally held in February to dispel the notion that black history needs a month of commemoration, but rather that it should be highlighted as any other part of history, at every given opportunity.”
Pay attention african people, pay attention!