Writers

I took portraits of Vamba Sheriff, Babah Tarawally and Kiza Magendane, with the question in mind what motivates and inspires them to write their stories.

 

For Vamba, hats are an indispensable part of his wardrobe. When he lived in Liberia as a child, he used to wear a beret, which protected him against evil spirits and ill-meaning people. The beret has now made way for a hat, but to Vamba it still has the same meaning.

 

Babah is holding a figurine that represents his ancestors. He says it's like a passport, a sign of his heritage. You can usually find the statuette on his writing desk, for motivation and to show gratitude to the people that have been there for him. They have made him who he is.

 

Kiza can almost always be found wearing a suit. The suit – and especially the jacket – give off a universal look. Kiza also makes the comparison to a passport, but not because it is an expression of his particular identity, but because it neutralizes identity in general. A well-fitted jacket, he says, makes cultural and socio-economic differences disappear, enabling him to move freely and easily in different circles across the world.