Robert Nzaou, born in 1976 in Nkayi, Congo-Brazzaville, is a self-taught Congolese photographer.

In the 1990s, he was introduced to art through the urban poetry of rap. To escape the violence in his country, he went into exile in South Africa in 2001, where he remained for almost ten years. Today, he divides his time between these two countries.

In 2015, he discovered photography through the works of Robert Doisneau, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Robert Frank. “I absolutely fell in love with this medium, which allowed me to tell stories and remain a poet, to develop my imagination while anchoring it in reality. Street photography became my credo, and I spent most of my time living this poetic passion as closely as possible to people and their lives.”

“The desire to narrate and share ordinary or unusual moments, to show the rest of the world where I come from, is the foundation of my work and creativity.”

Today, his photographs have been exhibited worldwide, including in South Africa, Congo, Ghana, France, Germany, and the United States.

This photo series is called “Louzolo,” which means “Love” in Kikongo, a local Congolese language. The series explores love languages in Congolese society—the dos and don’ts, what is acceptable and what is not. How much is too much? How can one express love in public? The images in this series depict a role reversal from what is typical in most Congolese households, showing men engaging in activities traditionally considered a woman’s domain. It highlights the joy of seeing a man performing even small gestures that women deeply appreciate.