In her series Harmattan Tales, Zohra Opoku creates an undertone of storytelling by focusing on dress codes. The notion of being completely veiled is an intriguing juxtaposition given the ebbs and flows of modern life, where practicality reigns supreme. The brightly colored garments of Hausa women in Ghana are not just an aesthetic statement, but they also determine the aesthetic feel of the market place where these women shop and work.

To achieve these works, Opoku has entered the intimate private spaces of these women’s lives, following them with gentle curiosity to capture moments and situations, which sparkle vibrantly. Images of roadside kiosks, mosques, and umbrella businesses become a dream sequence illustrating an almost theatrical stage of little local islands in the red sand, giving the spectator space to let the imagination wonder what stories the scenery is telling. Opoku creates an undertone of storytelling focusing on the politics and aesthetics of Muslim dress, a detail, which is both stunning and disruptive.