“Silent manifestos for a changing society”: photographer Moulaye Diarra uncovers the dreams of Dakar’s youth

Senegal has a young population, with it reported that half of its inhabitants are under the age of 19. This forms the basis of Moulaye Diarra’s photo series What if we were dreaming…, a poetic and sensitive exploration of the dreams and desires of the youth who live in the country’s bustling capital, Dakar. In a country with such a young demographic, “each young person is creating his or her own destiny,” says Moulaye. “These stories reveal a desire to escape, an attempt at reinvention, and a collective imagination where freedom and hope come together.”

While the Franco-Milian photographer is based in Paris, he often travels to Dakar, visiting friends and family. “It’s one of the few places I truly call home,” he says. “I always felt the urge to document Dakar through my own lens, to capture it as I see and feel it.” Wandering through the city and meeting people, “letting Dakar reveal itself to me” over seven weeks, the one thing that struck him the most was the youthfulness that surrounded him. “I began to wonder how young people navigate life in a society undergoing constant change,” says Moulaye. “Faced with the constraints of tradition, this generation escapes into spaces they create in their own image: microcosms of freedom where codes are transgressed, where the future is dreamed differently,” he continues. “These places become refuges, grounds for experimentation, and sometimes even silent manifestos for a changing society.”

This interest in the lives of others is something Moulaye can trace as far back as his teenage years, and is the catalyst he sees behind his photography. “I found joy in simply watching life unfold, letting my gaze capture the essence of everyday moments,” says Moulaye. “This silent observation often led to some of my most striking photographs.” This ethos, along with Moulaye now shooting on film, provides the backbone to his photographic approach. Now, before taking any photograph, Moulaye spends time with each of his sitters, getting to know them and making them feel at ease with him. “I give them my full attention, listen to them without judgment, and create a space of mutual trust,” he says. “Above all, I’m genuinely interested in their stories, which forms the foundation of our connection.”

Such an approach results not only in a strong personal connection, but a connection between the sitter and the camera; a willingness to show the lens a more intimate side of their being and relationships. One shot shows Ousmane hugging his girlfriend Aïcha, a shot Moulaye took after spending a number of hours with the pair, talking about their relationship and their hopes for the future. “While we were shooting, there was a moment when he simply looked at her and embraced her,” says Moulaye. “In that instant, I could see all the love he felt for her reflected in his eyes. Nothing else mattered – just the two of them, completely absorbed in each other.”

What if we were dreaming… has an ethereal feel about it, a direct relation to the series’ subject matter and title; something that can’t quite be described as a blur, but more of a fuzziness infused into every photo. This effect was an intentional choice from Moulaye; he wanted the visuals of the series to “reflect the idea that nothing is ever fully definite – everything is in constant motion, mirroring the rhythm of the city in its own way”. This comes to life beautifully in Moulaye’s portrait of Baye, a 24-year-old he describes as “full of life and dreams”, who he photographed at the beach, during one of his training sessions. “In his eyes, I could see everything he aspires to achieve in life,” ends Moulaye. “The light at that moment was perfect, as if the universe had aligned to capture his hope and determination.”