The images of Enshroud, a visual project by photographer Medina Dugger, have been created as digital collages and propose the abstract representation of the veil. The shapes, patterns, and colors have the task of telling the story of Nigeria, a territory populated by Muslim believers on the one hand and Catholics on the other: the hijab thus becomes a very visible symbol of faith, customs, and style in Lagos.

Medina wanted to communicate the power of her project through a very detailed explanation of this:

“The series also reflects on perceptions and realities surrounding the women who wear veils -garments which have a long and complex history that predates Islam. In ancient times, veils indicated a woman’s social status. Today, the hijab is often reduced to a vilified symbol, rendering it a pawn in the nationalistic culture of fear. Women in hijab risk stereotyping, social exclusion, judgement and abuse. Many associate the veil with extremism and female suppression”.

Her explanation becomes useful and interesting not only to really understand what lies behind these joyful and colorful images but also to grasp the meanings that lie behind the filters that the media put in front of cultures.

“In the West, the veil has also come to symbolize a position against islamophobia. Nike recently released the Nike Pro Hijab for female Muslim athletes and Kenyan-American model Halima Aden is the first model to appear in hijab on the cover of British Vogue”.

Visit Medina Dugger’s website if you want to learn more.