‘Land of Ibeji’ is a collaborative photographic project by artists Sanne De Wilde and Bénédicte Kurzen that looks at the mythology of twinhood in Nigeria, “Ibeji” meaning ‘double birth’ and ‘the inseparable two’ in Yoruba stands for the ultimate harmony between two people. The rate of twin births in West Africa is about four times higher than in the rest of the world.
The centre of this twin zone is Igbo-Ora, a sleepy southwest town in Nigeria. Using a visual narrative and an aesthetic language that is meant to reflect and empower the Yoruba culture that celebrates twins, the two photographers extend their gaze beyond appearance – with symmetry and resemblance as tools, to rasie awareness to the twin as a mythological figure and a powerful metaphor: representing the duality within a human being and the duality we experience in the world that surrounds us.
shapes and affects communities. She graduated with a Master in the Fine Arts at KASK in Ghent (BE) with honours in 2012. Her photo series ‘The Dwarf Empire’ was rewarded with the Photo Academy Award 2012 as well as the International Photography Award Emergentes DST in 2013. Her series ‘Snow White’ was awarded 16ème Prix National Photographie Ouverte and NuWork Award for Photographic Excellence. She is also the recipient of the Nikon Press Award in 2014 and 2016 for most promising young photographer.
Link to buy the book from Hannibal BooksBoth Sanne De Wilde and Bénédicte Kurzen are members of Noor Images.Sanne De Wilde is represented by East Wing | Doha.
