Shandi Alexander, Atmos

The Indigenous Diola people of Casamance, in southern Senegal, believe the spirits of life dwell in Le Bois Sacrés—“The Sacred Wood.” From these revered mangrove forests emerges the Kumpo, a mythical figure cloaked in dried palm leaves, known for a whirling dance and revered as a force of renewal that gathers community and shields it from harm.

Today, that vital ecosystem is increasingly threatened by fast-fashion debris and plastic waste washing ashore with the tide. Channeling the spirit of the Kumpo, some African designers are reworking discarded clothing through traditional techniques and Indigenous textiles.

Photographed by Juanita Richards