Noticed for his talent as a draftsman, Sidibé was encouraged to attend the School of Sudanese Craftsmen in Bamako, from which he graduated in 1955. In 1956, he decorated the ‘Photo Service’ store of Gérard Guillat, a society photographer also known as ‘Gégé la Pellicule’, who offered him a job as his apprentice. Two years later, Sidibé opened his own studio. The elated atmosphere of the 1950s and the coming of independence gave birth to a new generation of photographers who were embedded within the very culture they recorded. Sidibé, a central figure in the scene, was highly appreciated by the young and as such, was invited to all of Bamako’s wild revelries. In I957, he was the only reporter in Bamako who covered such events. His photographs are replete with spontaneity; his lens captures the cheer of festivity. This activity ceased in 1978 but Sidibé continued to photograph in his studio. Sidibé has since gained wide international recognition. A solo exhibition Malick Sidibé – Mali Twist, was held in his honor at the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, Paris (2017).