Hands Behind the Doors II (Tanzania, Zanzibar)

In a carving workshop in Zanzibar , a craftsman handcrafts a wooden door using traditional Swahili techniques. Behind the intricately finished panels, he works on the floor, surrounded by pieces in progress.

Each door is carved from mninga or teak wood , and decorated with symbolic motifs : spirals, leaves, interlacing, evoking prosperity, protection and memory .

This know-how, passed down orally for centuries, is one of the most precious legacies of Zanzibar's artisanal tradition.