Martin ABEGA : ‘We are guardians’, meeting the photographer who writes with light.
Martin ABEGA’s story is an invitation to awaken the divine within us and to reconnect with it. A photographer and multidisciplinary artist, he draws inspiration from the sacred, from tradition, and from the knowledge encountered throughout his journey. His universe weaves together body, history, and beauty—turning spirituality into substance. Recently showcased in a solo exhibition at Galerie Gondwana with Les Marques du Divin (“The Marks of the Divine”), Martin Abega shares his artistic odyssey as he revisits his most emblematic series.
Martin ABEGA
In this interview, Martin Abega retraces his initiatory journey into photography, guided by a divine calling he dared to answer.
"I didn’t choose photography, it chose me." This is how Martin Abega begins recounting his initiation into photography, which began eight years ago when he arrived in France. “When I got here, I was searching for myself. Having grown up in an environment completely different from this one, I had to readapt. You have to find what speaks to you most — something that aligns both with your environment and the person you’re meant to become. That’s how I found photography.”
Ngalula Mafwata : What were your first artistic emotions ?
Martin Abega : I quickly realized my deep attachment to photography — to writing with light — and I dove right in. The first feedback I received came from those close to me, who saw a certain light in me whenever I spoke about photography. They also noticed how it consumed all my time, to the point that I barely saw them anymore. I was taking a completely different path, even though I was trained as an electrician. I started taking commercial jobs to buy equipment, learn, and develop my own signature. It was a time of deep questioning, and like many people, confinement intensified that introspection. I let myself be carried by culture and reading — in fact, photography strengthened my love for reading. It pushed me to research, to learn, and to deconstruct limiting beliefs I once held. I’m also a beauty photographer, a practice I continue today and which deeply influences my work.
Ngalula Mafwata : The support of your loved ones seems to have been important at that moment ?
Martin Abega : I was lucky to have people around me who told me to go for it. When you decide to follow a new path, you go through moments of doubt that can easily lead to giving up. Your entourage doesn’t always understand, but you have to do things for yourself. I believe that if something truly lives within you and makes you happy, you must follow it. We live in a society that constantly tries to put us in boxes, but I think more people are realizing this and are trying to act according to their inner alignment — to avoid falling into depression or monotony. Photography is light. I learn every day. When a theme speaks to me, I start by researching and feeding myself with knowledge on the subject before letting divine creation guide me.
Ngalula Mafwata : Women appear frequently in your photographs, they seem to be a central, influential figure in your work.
Martin Abega : Few people know this, but I was raised by women. I have five older sisters, in addition to my mother. I’ve received so much from the women around me, without diminishing my father’s presence. I was nurtured by their affection, and that has profoundly shaped my view of the world. Women give life. Through my sisters first, and then other women, I discovered tenderness, love, and the sacrifices made for those they care for. Women’s sensitivity has always sparked my curiosity — we men don’t possess the same maternal qualities, and that moves me deeply. It’s what nourishes my creativity. My Féminin Sacré series is my humble tribute to them. You can only give what you are.
“We live in a society that constantly tries to put us in boxes, but I think more people are realizing this and are trying to act according to their inner alignment — to avoid falling into depression or monotony. ”
The Scarification, Martin ABEGA
Ngalula Mafwata : Masks hold a special place in our shared history — we’re all drawn to them, though for different reasons. They also appear in your work. What meaning or language do they carry for you?
Martin Abega : We are all drawn to masks — that’s no coincidence. My story with them began through a friend and elder, Jean-Christophe Zongo, an expert in primal arts who worked for years as an antiques dealer before opening his own gallery. He gave me a lot of guidance, especially during the three years when I frequently visited his gallery. That’s how my connection with masks began. I create from instinct — from what lives and speaks within me. I discovered their collective history, their symbolism, and the energy that flows through them — that of their creator. I immersed myself in their meanings — protection, beauty, fertility — there are so many. Each encounter has deepened my reflection, and that’s how this series devoted to masks was born. Before creating, I research carefully to produce something special, true to myself while honoring the traditions and codes of my heritage — through body language, contrasts, and mystery. That’s also why I chose female models for this series. We shot it in two parts: in the gallery and by the sea, to preserve that natural, elemental dimension inherent to masks.
Ngalula Mafwata : It seems to be a very organic process.
Martin Abega : Absolutely. I let myself be carried by creativity, my readings, and my research. Usually, I come in with a concept — but end up not really following it. Writing with light is instinctive and spontaneous. I’m often surprised by the final result. Depending on the project, I work alone or with a team. I remain deeply convinced that when the sacred entrusts you with a mission, you must honor it. We are vessels — we hold a gift. We just have to let ourselves be carried by the divine within us.
Ngalula MAFWATA : Using one’s gifts is a path few dare to take, what are your thoughts on that?
Martin ABEGA : We live in a system that crushes self-confidence. On top of that, we are constantly saturated with information, which goes against the natural order. Many people sink into depression or lose their sense of balance. You have to step outside the codes imposed on us — that, in my view, is the first step to freeing yourself from fear. Fear is what makes us fragile. When I left my comfort zone, that’s when I could truly let myself be carried by what lives within me. The reality is, there is no code — everyone is unique. You have to dare to listen to your inner voice, the one that guides and encourages you in every direction. When I finally let myself go, photography chose me, and that’s when the spark of fear dissipated. Building your own stability can be frightening, and that’s exactly what the system wants. To know what will happen, you have to take the leap.
“Women give life. Through my sisters first, and then other women, I discovered tenderness, love, and the sacrifices made for those they care for. Women’s sensitivity has always sparked my curiosity — we men don’t possess the same maternal qualities, and that moves me deeply. ”
Ngalula MAFWATA : Recently, you’ve started incorporating textiles and other elements into your work. What does this new chapter bring ?
Martin ABEGA : My work evolves; I don’t stay in one box. After six years dedicated exclusively to photography, I wanted to add another dimension. I grew up in Cameroon and remember we had to embroider our names on our school uniforms. As a child, I enjoyed doing that, exploring different forms of expression, like embroidered graffiti on my backpacks — and somehow, that resurfaced later. Touch is important to me: I find the combination of photography and textiles unique. I don’t want people to only look at the works; I want them to feel them. Textiles bring an extra depth to my work. It’s the result of many experiments and explorations.
L’énergie royale “NGUI”, Martin ABEGA
Ngalula MAFWATA : What connection do you maintain with Cameroon today ?
Martin ABEGA : I recently completed a project on Cameroon and make the effort to return. I believe that to be legitimate, you must connect with your roots. You cannot speak of your culture, heritage, memory, identity, or the sacred without going there — that’s not right. The divine guides me and tells me when to go. Similarly, when I went to Abidjan for the first time, it wasn’t planned, but things aligned, and that’s how my exhibition project there came about. I’m Cameroonian, but my projects can take me to Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Mozambique… Africa belongs to all Africans.
Ngalula MAFWATA : Your exhibition Les Marques du Divin ends in October. What comes next ?
Martin ABEGA : I am moving to a new stage in my work aimed at expanding its reach so more people can experience it, especially those who cannot visit galleries. I’m unveiling my first photo book, a project I’ve had in mind for some time and finally decided to pursue. The book brings my work to a new dimension.
You can explore Martin ABEGA’s work and his art book Ancestral et Contemporain on his personal website.
