"The Photograph" is a short story by Sefi Atta, a Nigerian author known for writing about identity, culture, and personal relationships, often with a strong female perspective.
Summary:
The story follows a
Nigerian woman named Zeinab, who works as a cleaner in London.
She lives a quiet, modest life far from her homeland. One day, a photographer
named Andrew visits the house where she works and takes her picture,
even though she is uncomfortable.
Later, Zeinab sees the
photo in a magazine — it is being used in an article about illegal
immigrants, and the image portrays her as a symbol of poverty and
exploitation. She is shocked and feels humiliated because the photograph was
used without her permission and taken out of context.
The story highlights how immigrants
are often misrepresented in Western media. It also explores dignity,
identity, and the power imbalance between those who tell stories
and those whose stories are told.
Themes:
- Misrepresentation in media
- Immigrant experience and racism
- Identity and dignity
- Power and consent
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