Johannesburg host
Ross Drakes
@rossdrakes
Also from this event
Aaron uncovers the stories behind the people who work creatively throughout Africa
Aaron speaks about how he and Phil Sandick travel throughout Africa and document the oral histories of some of the most influential creative personalities in Africa. Including Seydou Keita, El Anatsui, David Goldblatt, James Whyle, Ousmane M’baye, Samuel Fosso.
About the speaker

Aaron Kohn is the Director of Africa’s first design museum, MOAD (The Museum of African Design), which opened in October of 2013 in the Maboneng Precinct. Aaron moved from the USA to Johannesburg in 2013 after eight years of visiting and freelancing across Africa. As a contributor to Cool Hunting, Africa is a Country and Okay Africa, he’s had the opportunity to connect with creatives across the continent.
Aaron attributes his fascination with Africa to a viewing of the Jamie Uys film “The Gods Must Be Crazy” at the age of 14. It led to years of traveling to make films across the continent for nonprofits. Before entering university, Aaron had visited most of Southern Africa as well as far-flung parts of the Congo. While completing a degree in African Studies at Columbia University, Aaron and friend Phil Sandick opened a company in the United States, African Lookbook, facilitating distribution globally for African designers.
More recently, as a museum director, Aaron continues to travel, promote art and design in Africa, and hopes to read the entire Heinemman African Writer Series of African Literature.
You can keep up with Aaron’s exploits on Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram.
Photo by Alon Skuy (Times Live SA)
Favorite quotes from this talk See all
“It's an important lesson - Everyone has a story to tell — Aaron Kohn
“Ask me - Ask me who I am. Ask me what I do. How we can connect. How we can start a conversation. — Aaron Kohn
“We see people's work, their creativity. We compliment it, we like it, we ask them to make more but that doesn't mean we know the story — Aaron Kohn
Photos from this talk See all

Hosted by FADA Gallery
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Vovo Telo 44 Stanley
FADA gallery
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Brand Council SA
Photographer lingo rodrigues