Kunsthal Rotterdam

The exhibition ‘Drummies’ by the photographer Alice Mann shows the story of proud and self-confident young female athletes in South Africa. The eponymous subculture of these drum majorettes first manifested itself during parades through the streets of Cape Town in the 1970s. At the beginning of the 1980s, the sport was at the height of its popularity, but participation has since dropped dramatically. Today the sport is pervaded by a sense of nostalgia, but it is also still practiced in competitive clubs and school teams. For this multiple award-winning photo series – which she has been working on since 2017 – Mann has managed to capture the sense of community and sisterhood while also portraying the individual personalities of the young athletes.

Alice Mann's exhibition Drummies is on view from Saturday 2 October, and portrays the sport that brings together girls and young women from different backgrounds. 27 powerful portraits and documentary photos Mann’s images convey, with commitment and nuance, the story of a young generation of strong and determined women.