Neo Ntsoma is an award winning photographer, educator, and creative consultant dedicated to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities through her powerful images. With a focus on identity, culture, and social justice, her work has been showcased in prominent international publications, exhibitions, and awards.
A trailblazer in her field, Ntsoma has received numerous accolades. In 2004, she became the first female recipient of the prestigious Mohamed Amin Award, the CNN African Journalist of the Year Photography Prize, including the National Geographic All Roads Photography Award (2005).
Ntsoma has also lent her expertise as a judge for various photography competitions and served on selection committees for prestigious awards. As an independent curator, she has organized a few photography exhibitions including the Womandla Photography exhibition at the Pingyao International Photography Festival in China, the Wits University Fine Arts Students exhibition launched at the 2nd Quanzhou (Huaguang ) International Image Biennial, Fujian Photographic Art Museum in China.
Ntsoma’s leadership extends to her roles as a National Adjudicating Committee member for several esteemed awards and her participation in international selection committees, most notably the UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads International Photo Contest, Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award and [UNESCO ICM] Martial Arts Photo Contest. She has also shared her knowledge as a guest at renowned institutions such as the New York International Centre for Photography, Stanford University, and Yale University.
Co-author of the book “Women by Women: 50 Years Of Women Photography In South Africa,” Ntsoma’s contributions have been recognized through various honors, including being named one of Africa’s ‘100 Most Influential Women’ (2006) by Africa’s largest media group, Media24 and featured in Cosmopolitan magazine’s top thirty “awesome women” (2004 and 2006).