Charlotte Lapalus’s Tree Of Life Unravels Senegal’s Untold Stories

Because laws against FGM alone are simply not enough to eradicate the problem and impact change in attitudes towards women, Lapalus’s attempt to raise awareness is vital. There is a compelling tenderness and unparalleled power to the images—making the invisible visible shapes contemporary historyIt has the power to erode an ignorance which, alongside cultural and religious barriers, prevent victims from being acknowledged as such and counteract the oppression. In this, the photographer is remarkable for how she utilizes the platform of photography to cast a new light on the gender experience and the violence that society can proliferate. Today, as a new generation of Senegalese women refuses to go quietly into the night, fighting back against a patriarchal society, the editorial highlights the complex relationships between the cruel practice and their newly found empowerment. Intrigued by the poetic images and intricate textures, the viewers are challenged to unravel the cultural traditions that burden and entrap women in patriarchal societies at large. In many ways, the ‘Tree of Life’ aims to rewrite narratives. This is what Lapalus’s images do: they carry multiple meanings while inviting viewers to connect to these women’s stories. There is a deep, compelling tenderness to them, but most importantly, an unparalleled power—because making the invisible visible shapes contemporary history.