Cristina de Middel – The Afronauts (First Edition, 2012)

The Afronauts is a seminal first edition photobook by Spanish artist Cristina de Middel, self‑published in Madrid in 2012. The book reimagines the real‑life 1960s Zambian space program initiated by Edward Makuka, blending documentary source material with staged, speculative photography to question and undo conventional narratives about Africa. By inserting imagination into history, de Middel foregrounds fiction as a critical tool within photographic practice, challenging stereotypes and expanding the possibilities of visual storytelling.

Technical Sheet
Title: Cristina de Middel
Artist / Author: The Afronauts (First Edition, 2012)
Date: 2012