Daily Inspiration: Meet Malcolm-Aimé Musoni

Today we’d like to introduce you to Malcolm-Aimé Musoni.

Hi Malcolm-Aimé, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Everything that I am is because of that singular experience–being stuck in the Midwest for 18 years as a Black queer kid, son to two Rwandan immigrants. Our home was abusive and dysfunctional, it was the early-to-mid 2000s, and unfortunately so much of my time was spent hiding parts of myself. Bringing things to life that I saw or heard in my head because my refuge. I felt safest when I was funneling ideas from my brain to the paper. I was writing songs, stories, stand-up routines, designing clothes—anything I could do, I was doing it. I would use my mom’s husband’s camera when he wasn’t home and take photos. In the years since, I’ve worked in the entertainment / advertising industry as a writer and started my own magazine in 2020, Blacks Rule. That endeavor led me to start shooting more, out of necessity. It’s only now that my love of photography has re-emerged, that I’ve remembered some of my earliest moments with a camera.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m probably the world’s most anxious person. Being a photographer that is anxious is so hard, especially when you want to take photos of people. There’s so much trust and patience that has to happen between the photographer and the subject. I’ve learned and am still learning to get out of my head, slow down, and be more confident. Six months ago, I could have never imagined stopping someone on the street or bus to take their photo. Now, that is my reality. It still makes me anxious but it feels like a mountain I can climb. Also learning as I go, has been hard. I didn’t take a class or go to school for this. I’m building the plane while I’m flying it. It’s been a long build.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an artist. It took me a long time to call myself that. But, that’s what I am. I no longer feel confined or boxed in by what others need to be to make sense for them or their organization. I don’t need to ever see “artist” on a job description to call myself that. Making stuff is cool and I am really proud of all my artistic endeavors. However, I am the most proud of the work I have done in my community through my magazine Blacks Rule, and outside of it. Last school year, I worked as a volunteer with Reading Partners Los Angeles, a non-profit organization providing literacy support for kids K-4th grade. Twice a week, I would start at 8am and tutor kids for two hours. Sometimes I would tutor more kids if they had a need for more support. It’s the most meaningful work I have ever done. Watching the kid’s confidence grow as they became better readers was one of my top moments of 2024/2025.

You feel powerless when you’re a kid, or at least I did. Being able to read helped open the world up for me. When you can read and comprehend what you’re reading, you understand the world and what you’re up against so much more. Reading helps your brain bloom. You gain new tools. The National Assessment of Educational Progress’ 2025 reports showed that 69% of this country’s 4th graders are reading below proficiency levels. This is an alarming issue because 4th grade is usually the last grade that reading is taught. You get left behind after that. If we want to defeat these systems of oppression and liberate ourselves, we must push each other to read and make sure the youth are reading and understanding what they are reading.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
There’s a quote from one of my favorite directors, Marlon Riggs and it’s always on loop in my head: “As long as I have work then I’m not going to die, cause work is a living spirit in me – that which wants to connect with other people and pass on something to them which they can use in their own lives and grow from.” I try to live by that and remember that. I’m not sure if it’s getting older that has caused me to think about the life of the things I’ve created or if it’s the fact that so many of the things I have created have been made on the internet and made for the internet. That version of the internet is dead. All that’s left are 404 error pages.

I’m online too much and I’m always reminding myself to keep my eyes on my own paper. It’s so easy to look at other artists that are making things and compare yourself to them or want what they have. I have to constantly remind myself of the kind of photographer I want to be. I have to constantly remind myself of the kind of artist I want to be. I have to remind myself that my goals go beyond getting lots of followers and likes on Instagram and that the end goal isn’t to just take a cool photo and upload it to Instagram. Lastly, the only way to get better is to just do. I’ve spent so much money on different cameras and I’ve abandoned taking photos so many times over the last five years. There’s no shortcuts. You just have to do the thing, over and over and over. Keep sucking, don’t quit. Put in your time. As your output increases you will realize—like I did—that you never really sucked, you just didn’t have enough experience. And before you know it, you’ll feel yourself closing the gap between your skill and your taste. I can feel it now and it’s incredible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://malcolmaimemusoni.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/wunhourphoto
• Other: https://wunhourphoto.tumblr.com