1. The Hyena Handlers of Nigeria

2. • It all started with the picture above. A friend had emailed
photographer Pieter Hugo this bizarre image taken on a cellphone
in Lagos, Nigeria. The caption read, ‘The Streets of Lagos’, and a
newspaper publishing the photo reported that the men were bank
robbers, body guards, drug dealers and debt collectors.
• The image went viral online and the myth of these street toughs in
Nigeria with Hyenas grew. Pieter was captivated and knew he had
to learn more.
• Through a journalist friend, Hugo tracked down a Nigerian reporter,
Adetokunbo Abiola, who said that he knew the Gadawan Kura as
they are known in Hausa (a rough translation: ‘hyena
handlers/guides’). A few weeks later, Pieter was on a plane to
Lagos.
• The following is a recount of Hugo’s journey and his thoughts on
the Gadawan Kura. The photographs below are from his book The
Hyena & Other Men.
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13. POSTED BY
J.JAYAKRISHNAN