People of Tamba: Dignified portraits of people in Senegal aim to dispel the myths behind migration

Through the People of Tamba, he portrays various professionals – from doctors and bankers, to teachers and farmers – in their work environments to highlight their contribution to society. The project aims to counter negative and numbers-based reporting about migration by bringing to the fore the people and stories behind the statistics.

The series was inspired by German photographer August Sander's seminal People of the Twentieth Century. Hänninen said: "I decided to present the photographs in large format to show the people of this project on a human scale and thereby create a rapport with the viewer. They are like us; with their past, their present and their aspirations for the future. They represent everyone's history."

Specially commissioned by the Albers Foundation, it is accompanied by Senegal/Sicily a series of six short documentaries, created in collaboration with filmmaker Alberto Amoretti, each featuring the experiences, dreams and reflections of migrants and their relatives who remained in Senegal. It aims to show local young people who are considering migrating a sincere account of the risks of the voyage and the reality of those who made it to Europe.

Amoretti said: "The project aims to offer information about the journey, the risks entailed, the conditions and the opportunities available in Europe today. I hope the films can help those considering leaving their countries to make an informed decision and evaluate for themselves if it is worth it."