Location: MAYOTTE

“MADJINI – Inhabited Bodies” unveils the hidden spiritual world of Mayotte, where djinns, moinaissas, and Malagasy ancestors shape an unseen reality. This Indian Ocean archipelago embodies a multicultural France—one that metropolitan France theorizes about yet often fears.

While mainstream narratives reduce Mayotte to violence and immigration, Bénédicte Kurzen shifts the focus to its mystical dimension. Positioned at the crossroads of the Indian Ocean and the Mozambique Channel, Mayotte is home to a diverse population blending Islamic and animist traditions. Since becoming France’s 101st department in 2011, Mayotte has undergone profound societal changes. Yet, traditional beliefs remain essential cultural anchors, quietly resisting modernity’s encroachment. Practiced discreetly, these spiritual convictions persist in the private sphere.

Kurzen’s photographic approach moves beyond documentary realism, embracing a vivid, saturated palette that evokes magic. Through striking hues, she crafts a visual language that bridges myth and reality. This project extends her ongoing exploration of mythology, animism, and belief systems—challenging perceptions and redefining social constructs.

ABOUT BÉNÉDICTE KURZEN

Bénédicte Kurzen (born 1980, France) is a storyteller exploring mythologies, intercultural narratives, and social redefinitions through photography. Her work blends documentary, metaphorical visuals, and collaboration. She began her career in the Middle East in 2003 before moving to Africa, where she has spent 20 years documenting socio-economic fractures in South Africa and Nigeria. Her work, published globally, has earned her accolades, including a World Press Photo award (2019), the Carmignac Photojournalism Award (2022), and grants from the Pulitzer Center and the European Journalism Center. She is a National Geographic Society member.