WAKA WAKA: THE JOURNEY THAT FOUND ME FIRST
I first crossed paths with Danj, better known as Mr. Waka Waka, on a warm September day in Brooklyn. The book tour hadn’t even begun yet, but somehow the energy around him already felt like the start of something. I was drawn to the concept before ever seeing the work and after meeting him, everything clicked. The presence matched the project. The calm, curious way he spoke about his travels made it obvious he wasn’t just collecting images, he was documenting a life lived in motion.
His new book, WAKA WAKA: Observations on Contemporary African Life, Culture & Landscapes, captures twenty years of travel across the African continent through photography and personal stories that stretch across countries, communities and time. Each page feels like a living memory…sunlight hitting a wall, laughter caught mid-air, architecture that speaks louder than words. It’s both grand and intimate, giving you a view of Africa that’s rooted in authenticity, not spectacle.
The most surprising detail? Every single photo was shot on an iPhone. That revelation changed how I looked at the entire book. The colours, the compositions, the detail, it all feels too rich, too cinematic to come from something that fits in your pocket. But that’s part of the magic: it proves that storytelling isn’t about the equipment; it’s about perspective. The lens doesn’t matter as much as the eye behind it.
As you flip through, you start to realize Danj doesn’t just travel, he immerses. There’s no distance between him and the moment. He’s in it, grounded, curious and deeply respectful. You can feel it in the way people look back at the camera: comfortable, seen, never staged. The storytelling goes beyond what’s visible, it moves like a rhythm you can’t quite name but instantly recognize.
Each image carries its own heartbeat but it’s the way he weaves them together that pulls you in. The transitions from one landscape to another, from city streets to open deserts, from market noise to quiet reflection, create a pace that mirrors the very pulse of the continent.
Reading it feels like being a plus-one on the journey, standing beside him, taking it all in together. You don’t just see Africa through his lens; you feel it. You hear the conversations behind the smiles, sense the trust between photographer and subject and experience the kind of stillness that only comes from being truly present.
What makes Waka Waka so special is how unpretentious it is. It doesn’t try to define Africa; it simply reflects it through one man’s eyes, with love and intention. There’s a quiet confidence in that choice, in letting the work speak without explanation. The photos are vibrant, yes, but it’s the emotional layering that keeps you turning the pages.
Meeting Danj before seeing the finished book gave me a rare perspective. I saw the man behind the lens, someone deeply connected to where he’s from, but equally curious about where the world might take him next. His humility is what makes the work shine even brighter. You can tell he approaches every subject, every scene, with the same respect and awe he carries in conversation.
Waka Waka is more than a photography book, it’s a meditation on time, culture and memory. It’s a reminder that the truest art comes from those who live with intention, who move through the world with both wonder and care.
It’s a love letter to Africa, written through the eyes of someone who’s still in love.
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You can now get your hands on Waka Waka in a few spots across New York.
Find it at:
The Brooklyn Museum Shop - 200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238, United States
Common Things - 76 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003, United States
Marché Rue Dix - 1453 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216, United States
If you’re not in the city, no stress! The piece is also available online - HERE
