Rashid Lombard is a seasoned visual artist-activist who has gathered a longitudinal documentary of approximately 500 000 photographic images representing the struggle of resistance in a multitude of forms. His work as a photojournalist, alongside his unprecedented success of a jazz festival promoter, extends into various spheres of television, political media and artistic resistance, industry, jazz music and everyday life over a 45-year period. He worked for International networks such as the BBC, NBC, and Agence France Presse (AFP). In the bloody ’80s, he was Chief Photographer for South Press, the first anti-apartheid independent weekly tabloid in Cape Town and contributed to Grassroots, Die Suid Afrikaan, Saamstaan, New Nation and other progressive publications. His photographic continues to be exhibited in major galleries at home and around the world and published in many books depicting the struggle and leaders figures fighting for freedom in SA. During this time, his images featured in 31 worldwide exhibitions and permanent collections in New York, Oslo, the UK and South Africa as well as his time as Former President Nelson Mandela’s personal photographer upon his release in 1990.
In 2014, Rashid Lombard received the Order of Ikhamanga, by The President of South Africa. This honour is to South Africans for outstandingly impactful achievements in arts, culture, literature, music, journalism, and sports.