Tito Valery arrives at Artists at Risk (AR) Safe Haven Helsinki
Born CHIFOR C. VALERY, « Tito » is a Cameroonian activist, photographer and media personality from the anglophone city of Bamenda (North West). After studying law at the University of Buea, he begun his career as a radio DJ with a focus on hip-hop. In 2004, he began writing and hosting « The Break » on STV (Spectrum Television), the first show on Cameroonian television focussed on urban contemporary art. After six years on the show, he moved towards photography, opening his first solo exhibition ( Poe’Traits the poetry or portraits) at the controversial radical K-Factory gallery in 2010.
By 2014, Valery was an alumni of « Asiko », Olabisi Silva’s CCA-Lagos powered curatorial project. Valery was invited by « Collectif Nord » to exhibit at the Dak’Art Biennale in 2014, where his « Hands » series addressed the setbacks and « handicaps » of artists from the Anglophone minority in Cameroon. Valery also worked as a correspondent for the BBC World Service « Arts Hour » radio programme from 2014-2015.
It’s been busy since – from playing legendary Harlem clubs in NYC to programming the Cameroon-focus and hosting the daily crossover radio show « Me and My Circumstances » at documenta14 Radio/Deutschlandfunk in 2017.
Tito Valery is an activist on anglophone/francophone issues, and writes regularly about the oppressive situation of young anglophone Cameroonian artists, and the current tensions more generally.
Born CHIFOR C. VALERY, « Tito » is a Cameroonian activist, photographer and media personality from the anglophone city of Bamenda (North West). After studying law at the University of Buea, he begun his career as a radio DJ with a focus on hip-hop. In 2004, he began writing and hosting « The Break » on STV (Spectrum Television), the first show on Cameroonian television focussed on urban contemporary art. After six years on the show, he moved towards photography, opening his first solo exhibition ( Poe’Traits the poetry or portraits) at the controversial radical K-Factory gallery in 2010.
By 2014, Valery was an alumni of « Asiko », Olabisi Silva’s CCA-Lagos powered curatorial project. Valery was invited by « Collectif Nord » to exhibit at the Dak’Art Biennale in 2014, where his « Hands » series addressed the setbacks and « handicaps » of artists from the Anglophone minority in Cameroon. Valery also worked as a correspondent for the BBC World Service « Arts Hour » radio programme from 2014-2015.
It’s been busy since – from playing legendary Harlem clubs in NYC to programming the Cameroon-focus and hosting the daily crossover radio show « Me and My Circumstances » at documenta14 Radio/Deutschlandfunk in 2017.
Tito Valery is an activist on anglophone/francophone issues, and writes regularly about the oppressive situation of young anglophone Cameroonian artists, and the current tensions more generally.
