The African Photobook (TAP) is a publicly accessible digital library dedicated to showcasing photobooks by East African photographers. This initiative addresses a glaring gap in the history and availability of photobooks created by native African photographers, particularly from East Africa.

TAP was founded by two East African photographers during their undergraduate photography studies in England. Frustrated by the scarcity of photobooks from their region and the notable absence of East African photographers in both physical and digital libraries, they embarked on a mission to change the narrative.

Our mission is to bridge this archival gap. TAP provides free access to the incredible talent of photographers from the Horn of Africa and beyond, serving as a resource for researchers, historians, students, scholars, and the general public.

For submissions, press or media inquiries, or collaboration proposals, please reach out via our contact details here.

Support our work and help preserve the rich heritage of East African photography by making a one-time payment here.

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What We Mean by East Africa

For the purposes of this platform, “East Africa” refers specifically to Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—countries historically known as British East Africa.

However, the broader region of eastern Africa encompasses a larger area that includes:

• The Great Lakes Region: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi.
• The Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Djibouti, and Somalia.

Occasionally, other countries such as Comoros, Seychelles, Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, or Sudan are also considered part of eastern Africa. However, TAP primarily focuses on the core 10 nations listed above.