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CURSE OF THE BLACK GOLD

Exhibition, Studio
7 Mar - 26 Apr 2009
Date
7 Mar - 26 Apr 2009
Location
Noorderlicht | Huis van de Fotografie, Akerkhof 12, Groningen

It was midway through the 20th century when the first oil fields were opened up in Nigeria. Today the country is one of the most important suppliers of oil for the United States and the sixth largest oil producer in the world. The oil industry has generated enormous revenue for the government, but at the same time has had a disruptive effect on the countryside. The unique biodiversity of the Niger Delta has been destroyed by oil spills and continual gas fires. Fishing and cultivating the once fertile soil have become futile activities as a result of oil production there. While a thin upper crust benefits from the oil revenues, the vast majority of the population still live in shocking poverty. It is rare for the big oil companies to put money into activities that compensate the local population for the loss of previous sources of income. The social and economic inequalities lead to tensions and conflicts among the different communities in Nigeria.

On display