Phyllis Galembo: Minor Ekpe Masquerade with Mango Leaves, Calabar South, Nigeria, 2005

Aperture is pleased to release a special limited-edition photograph by Phyllis Galembo from the reissue of her book, Maske. 

Galembo has documented cultural and religious traditions in Africa and among the African Diaspora for over two decades. Traveling widely throughout western and central Africa and regularly to Haiti, Galembo photographs participants in masquerade events—traditional African ceremonies and contemporary costume parties and carnivals—who use costumes, body paint, and masks to create mythic characters.

Sometimes entertaining and humorous, often dark and frightening, her portraits document and describe the transformative power of the mask.

Each limited-edition print is hand-packed with great care and ships from New York within 3–5 days.