Phyllis Galembo Ano Women's Masquerade. Nigeria. 2004.
"Ano Women's Masquerade' was photographed at the base of a sacred cotton silk wood tree in a village in Nigeria. Although masquerade is predominantly male pr
(...) actice in Nigeria, women's masquerade societies are distinctive to this particular area. These performers, who embody spirits and ancestral beings from the other world, conceal their entire heads and body with beautiful elaborate patterned fabrics. The costumes mix foreign and cultural traditions, which are both complex and rich. Masking traditions in Nigeria often appear during celebrations, memorials and harvest festivals. For me, masquerade is a common thread that unites us through the transformative power of costume and ritual."
- Phyllis Galembo
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