Excerpt from Les Somme De Nous (2024)

LES SOMME DE NOUS (2024) is a contemplative exploration of identity, moving beyond Western frameworks to reimagine our relationship with language, selfhood, and the intricate bonds between people and place. Over the course of a six month road trip, artist Lilah Benetti journeyed through Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal, to further understand the historical presence of gender non-conformity within traditional spiritual practices. At the same time, the work interrogates the complexities of contemporary political landscapes in these regions and examines the vital role of non-men in preserving and sustaining these traditions.

This experimental audiovisual piece invites the viewer into a personal and immersive visual archive. Through quiet moments of reflection, woven with intimate audio interviews, the work envisions individual presence as a gateway to a more equitable future—one that invites us to reimagine the role of the global diaspora in shaping new possibilities for collective liberation. It prompts us to consider the power of collaboration in fostering an inclusive and expansive future.

As the artist navigates these roads, they extend an invitation for viewers to join them in a deeply personal journey. Together, they ponder essential questions: How does the global diaspora contribute to this vision of freedom? How can we advocate for spaces that honor all voices? Ultimately, this work challenges us to reflect on a larger inquiry—what is the sum of us, and who remains excluded from this vital conversation?

Les Somme De Nous has been featured in prestigious galleries and museums across North America, the UK, Africa, and Australia, offering a profound reflection on personal and collective identity. Notably, it was showcased in the Tate Modern’s History Reverberates: Portraits of Identity, a testament to its exploration of individuality and cultural heritage.

Lilah Benetti, Les Sommes de Nous (The Sum of Us), 2024, single-channel digital video, high-definition colour, sound; 08:33 minutes. Original footage shot by Lilah Benetti on analogue film and tape. Original experimental score by Lilah Benetti and Sound Designer Rei Ha Ra. Featuring interviews with Togbe, Colonel Abdoulaye Ndiaye, Professor Serigne Mor Mbaye, Julien Kalipe, Raki Cis, Bachita Banasse, Khaoula Ksiksi. End drums and vocals by Ndeye Seck and Raki Cis. Supported by Creative Victoria, Ian Potter Foundation, Ubuntu Australia, Black Rock Senegal, The City of Melbourne. English subtitles (French available on request).
Location: Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal.
© 2024, Lilah Benetti. Image courtesy of the artist.