Diamond Matters photo exhibition

Diamond Matters follows the route of a diamond; from Africa via India to the West. It shows the dangerous alluvial mining in Sierra Leona, the poor working conditions of the diamondcutters in Surat, the jewish traders in Antwerp and finally the rich customers in cities like New York.

NiZA and West African Witness want to show the public the different sides of a diamond. We all know the glitter and glamour in Western countries, either from movies or real life. On the other site of the world these precious stones are not so glamourous at all. The minors in African countries like Sierra Leone, Angola en Democratice Republic of Gongo, often do dangerous work. In muddy rivers and pools they dive for rough diamonds, not realizing these small stones will be worth a fortune. Far away from home the only thing they get is a small salary.
In Surat, India, the situation isn't much better. In small, dusty workingplaces the diamond cutters transform the black stones to shiny gems. The smallest diamonds are often polished by children, because they have sharp eyes and small fingers. Because of debt-bondage many workers have no chance te leave this miserable place.

Diamond Matters travels all over the world to raise awareness on the relationship between luxury products on the one hand and international trade and human rights on the other hand. Besides the official opening in Amsterdam, it has already been to Sierra Leone and Germany. At this moment the exhibition is displayed in The Photo Museum in Antwerp (till September 18th) and in different places in DRCongo as well (till July 31st 2005). It will also go to Angola, South Africa, New York at a later stage.