West African Masquerade

May 30, 2010 6:33 AM

Large-scale color photographs from 2005 to 2006 reflect the ritual adornment and spirituality of masquerade in Nigeria, Benin and Burkina Faso in West Africa. These portraits of masqueraders build on Galembo's work of the past twenty years photographing the rituals and religious culture in Nigeria, Brazil, Cuba, Jamaica and Haiti, as well as the homegrown custom of Halloween in the United States. West African Masquerade.

Photography by Phyllis Galembo. Galembo previously.

posted by Rinku (5 comments total)

Unfortunately, Galembo's website suffers from artist's website-itis, but taking a look at her other projects is worth it.
posted by Rinku at 6:35 AM on May 30, 2010

Wow, those are amazing photos—thanks for the post!
posted by languagehat at 9:51 AM on May 30, 2010

Saw a few old examples of these costumes in the Met a couple of months ago and have been haunted by them since. Fantastic pics.
posted by merocet at 11:58 AM on May 30, 2010

very interesting, thanks.
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:59 PM on May 30, 2010

Looks like the characters in Little Big Planet.
posted by zardoz at 5:24 PM on May 30, 2010