Angèle Etoundi Essamba graduated from the Nederlandse Fotovakschool (Dutch School for Professional Photography) in Amsterdam. Her work lies at the intersection of social/gender issues and the artistic field, as she uses her photography to bring her message across in a creative way. Aiming to change the images of the mind, she offers the eyes images of truth, playing with symbolic and aesthetic dimensions. Etoundi Essamba's works have been widely exhibited in museums, institutions, galleries, art fairs, and biennials, such as Galerie 23 Amsterdam, Netherlands, Musée des Civilisations Noires (MCN), Dakar, Sénégal, Musée National, Yaoundé, Cameroon, The ZAC - Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, Palermo, Italy, and Musée Théodore Monod Dakar, Sénégal. Her photos have been commented on in several publications, and are part of several public and private collections. In 2016 she was awarded the 'National Knight of the Order of Valor' by the President of the Republic of Cameroon.
Etoundi Essamba's work in her series 'Noir' feature black and white portraits, as well as body parts of black women to expose the relationship between the interior and exterior, and to reveal individuality and intimacy. She exploits the texture of black and white photography to underline the beauty and strength of black people. The result being works that embody strength, pride, hope, and resilience across time and generation. Her photographs reflect identity, attachment to the earth, and ability to rise above one's self.