Yannis Davy's The First Woman

We love a photo series that tells a story, just like The First Woman (2020) does. African-Canadian photographer Yannis Davy explores African identities and culture amongst Africans and Diaspora. In this series, he tells an age old folktale about Abuk, the first woman in the Dinka mythology to ever be created. She was elevated to divine status but fell to Earth with her husband Garang. They were left to wander and unendingly search for their way back to heaven.

Davy translates this story into a modern, contemporary lens. The field of hard bricks is no doubt how Abuk and Garang saw Earth - unyielding, unfruitful and ugly. They wander around trying to find their way back, rather than facing their new reality and making the best of it.

See more of Yannis Davy Guibinga’s work here.