By Imke Rust WINDHOEK The 6th African Encounters of Photography, Bamako Biennale 2005, took place in Mali from November 10 to December 10. Top photographers from the African continent were selected to exhibit their works at this prestigious event. The star of the Bamako Biennale was undoubtedly Namibian photographer Helga Kohl. Her Kolmannskoppe photographic series decorated the official poster, front page cover of the catalogues, invitations and newspapers. It was also used for all other visual material related to the Bamako Biennale like film, slide shows and TV. The city of Bamako paid tribute to African photography by using her image to decorate the whole town in an extensive advertising campaign for the Biennale. Helga Kohl has received the highest honour and has proudly represented Namibia at the exhibition. She has just returned from a four-week trip to Mali, where she has been invited to attend all the functions and ceremonies and go on a photographic tour of some parts of the country. The exhibition will travel around the world. Her participation at this event has been financed by the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre. The FNCC is presently preparing an exhibition of Kohl’s work, which will be sent throughout the SADC region and to other French cultural centres in order to celebrate her achievement and show her outstanding work to a greater audience.