I named this image “Taking up Space” because that is what the image depicts. An afro-Cuban woman rightfully taking up space on the concert-stage, doing her thing with the saxophone during her solo. I was at the afro-Cuban funk band Cimafunk concert in London in Summer of 2022, a concert that was rescheduled twice due to the pandemic. When it finally came to fruition, their debut single “Me Voy” had already existed in the ether. A chant for those familiar to afro-Cuban funk, they are now global stars, taking over stages across the world.
Cimafunk himself aside (or behind if you want to look into the background), what captivated my lenses for the majority of the performance were the two female saxaphonists belting out notes so sharp they could have cut you. Their stature, demeanour screamed “I own this space” and I absolutely loved it. Seeing black women thrive in spaces designed for us just made me feel even more empowered to just go for the things I’ve been too shy to do. Seeing them doing what they love and looking good whilst doing it, their outward appearance screaming confidence and humility reaffirmed that I too, can exude this attitude should I want to. An image like this I wish I had hung in my bedroom when I was young.