In Wolof, Tataan is the act of placing a basin under the rain and letting it fill, drop by drop. In the same way, this series looks at how women are shaped by what they receive, gestures, words, and ways of preparing themselves. In Senegalese culture, being well prepared is a form of pride. It is a language. A way of showing care for oneself and for others. This project is my way of holding onto what I grew up seeing, and honoring the women who taught me that preparation is also dignity.
This first episode, Réen Yi, captures women getting ready together for a ndawtal, sharing beauty, conversation, and presence in the late afternoon heat.
I hope you receive this with the same care it was made with.
This project was directed by me
@sheisyam , with cinematography by Oumar Bayo Fall
@bayo_fall , still photography by Amath Mbaye
@mbayethebeast , performances by Mame Penda, Koudy, Tata Ndeye Sène, and Tata Ndeye Khoudia, behind-the-scenes content by Martha B. Cole
@juste_martha , and lighting by Seye
@41.097279 
