The series The Hyena and Other Men is comprised of strong and stunning portraits that provide a view into the life and relationships of the Gadawan Kura, roughly translating to ‘hyena handlers’, and their animals. Hugo’s work has concentrated on the fringes of African societies, and for two years he traveled and photographed the Gadawan Kura in Nigeria. Their tradition of performing with the animals has been passed down for generations and the deeply rooted cultural influences are interwoven into their modern day dress with the pairing of factory-made tank-tops and multicolored, woven skirts. The hyenas, and the other wild animals, are positioned with equal presence to their handler, with their name in each title, further highlighting the interdependence between subjects. Jatto and Mainasara’s bold portrait against the dilapidated buildings is a quintessential image from this important series.