Simb
I have just shot a fashion series with a brilliant student of IFM who received the congratulations of the jury. His name is Ibrahima Gueye and is from Senegal.
He decided to revisit a traditional Senegalese ceremony which today gives rise to a show taking place in all districts of Senegal. This ceremony known as the Simb, for “Simboo”, name given to a powerful lion during the period when Senegal was called the kingdom of Walo, was a rite of disenchantment.
Legend has it that a young hunter was crossing the Senegal River on foot, when Simboo pounced on him with the intention of devouring him. After a bloody battle, the victorious hunter returned to the village. Slowly the young man began to transform into an animal, inhabited and possessed by the spirit of the defeated Lion.
Quickly covered with extreme hairiness, fed on raw meat, and with blood-red eyes the young hunter became a lion. All the healers of the village began in unison a powerful rite of disenchantment through a long recital of incantations called “Jat” accompanied by percussions in order to drive out the animal spirit.
Thus was born the simb.
Victor Matussière
model @irresistiblelikeires
designer @g.i_b
make-up @hiroko-makeup
me @studiomatussiere
