documentary | filmmaking | photography | people | travel
It’s great to see Jason’s images from our ‘Tippy Tap‘ assignment – we did a few months back here in The Gambia – for NGO, Concern Universal, up on their new website. For such a simple, affordable, invention the rewards of using the Tippy Tap are tenfold for the people we met… such as Wuday and Alieu.
Now that we are back in The Gambia, we’ll be continuing with a photography project, based on the traditional masquerades of this region of West Africa. Despite the Gambia being a predominantly Muslim country, the animist fuelled masquerade ceremonies pre-date the arrival of Islam and are still tolerated and practiced around the country. Animism is an intriguing subject – the belief that animals and inanimate objects, such as trees, possess a soul, or a spiritual essence.
Also, the juxtaposition between the urban environment and these ancient traditions is fascinating – just like ‘The Hunting’, pictured above (©Jason Florio), in the concrete and corrugated iron enclave of the capital city of Banjul.
Whether it be a circumcision ceremony, celebrating a successful harvest, chasing away evil spirits, enforcing village rules, or simply for entertainment, each particular masquerade plays a central and significant role in many parts of West African society.
Most of the masquerades we’ve seen so far are based on animals. However, the traditions are being hauled into the 21st century, modernised by the use of synthetic fabrics and ornaments, such as Christmas tree baubles, adorning ‘new-style’ masquerades. However, more on those particular masquerades as we move on with the project (sneak preview, below).
Thanks, as always, for stopping by.
The Florios – Helen & Jason
We’ve had a busy, adventurous – and extremely exhilarating – kind of week, since we completed our walk of the Gambian coastline, finishing off a couple of travel assignments… from getting up close and personal with big crocodiles, to throttling around in the Gambian bush, getting thoroughly down and dirty in the process, on Tonka Toy-like 200cc quad bikes, alternating with bouncing over potholes in buggys. What fun!
And, where better to finish off editing (me: ‘A Short Walk in the Gambian Bush‘ book) and writing the features (Jason) … my old haunt, Laybato Beach Bar. Our office with a view…
Once the features are published, we’ll be posting more on the coastline walk, the quad-biking, and the crocodile pool. Please stay with us. In the meantime, updates about what else we are up to, down here in West Africa, will be posted on FB, Twitter, and Instagram.
Thanks for stopping by The Florios – Helen & Jason
At Photoville, NYC, 2013, we exhibited Jason Florio’s ‘River Gambia‘ body of work – taken whilst we were on the ‘River Gambia Expedition – 1044km source-sea African odyssey‘. So, we were very excited when, earlier this year, the organizers of PV – United Photo Industries – approached us to see if we would like to exhibit the work as part of their Wunderlust / Drawn to Water series of exhibitions on the East River Ferry, in New York.
We are particularly honored to except their invitation because, although we are spending an extended period here in West Africa at the moment, New York has been our home for some years now. We only wish we could be there to see it. However, we are more than happy to have ‘River Gambia‘ representing us… floating around on the East River in NYC.
To see more of Jason’s ‘River Gambia‘ series, please visit the website: floriophoto.com. And, if you would like to read about and see more images from the journey – check out our ‘River Gambia Expedition‘ blog.
Thanks for stopping by.
The Florios – Helen & Jason
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