Many myths surround the "hyena Men" who haunt the peripheries of Nigeria's cities. Accompanied by hyenas, rock pythons and baboons, these men earn a living by performing before crowds and selling traditonal medicines. Pieter Hugo's extraordinary portraits of their liminal existence reveal an uncanny world of complex, co-dependent relationships, where familiar distinctions between dominance and submission, wildness and domesticity, tradition and modernity are constantly subverted. Nigerian journalist Adetokunbo Abiola introduces readers to the "Hyena Men", explaining the traditions and mystique behind their practices. Presented inn thirty-five full colour plates, these intense portraits reveal why Hugo is one of the most exciting young photographers at work today. AUTHOR: Pieter Hugo is a photographer whose work has been shown in his native South Africa as well as throughout Europe and North America. Hugo won first prize in the Portraits section of the 2006 World Press Photo competition, and was selected by Getty Images as one of their Young Photographers of 2006. 35 colour illustrations
