Miora Rajaonary (The Everyday Projects) Hanta, a Sakalava woman from Antanimalandy, in Northwest Madagascar, in her lamba garment in December 2017. She wears the Malagasy traditional mask, the Masonjoany, made from the same tree that gro
(...) ws on the west coast of Madagascar. "This is my favorite outfit, I feel proud and empowered when I wear it.”
“During the early years of my photography career, I learned about photography and worked in South Africa. Although I was familiar with the country and its people, I was still an outsider, a foreigner, an observer. Working in Madagascar, my home country, provoked a switch in my state of mind. I was photographing home, I could be the insider, I could do more than telling, I could represent and make pictures to represent Malagasy people with pride and dignity and highlight our culture. This experience taught me that, wherever I am, I must look for that common thread of humanity that connects me with the people I am photographing to be better.”
– Miora Rajaonary
