Etinosa Yvonne

It’s All in My Head

It’s All in My Head is a multimedia project that explores the coping mechanisms of survivors of terrorism and violent conflict by using layered portraits of the things they do to help them move forward or otherwise.

The project aims to advocate for increased access to psychosocial support for the survivors which in turn will improve their mental health.

In the last twenty years, Nigeria has witnessed an increase in terrorism and violent conflicts. Some of these survivors have witnessed the most violent acts been meted out on them, their loved ones and in some cases all that they own.

It is interesting to know that while these survivors find a way to rebuild and adjust to their new lives, many of them never get to talk about their experiences. Thus, the idea of “moving on” can be considered to be a charade as they are stuck in the past while trying to start over.

Exploring the coping mechanisms of these individuals gives an insight to how these survivors struggle to move on amidst little or no psychosocial support.

The motion, still images and sound all play a significant role in showcasing how the survivors cope or feel.

About the Artist

Artist Website

Etinosa Yvonne (b. 1989) is a self taught documentary photographer from Benin, Nigeria.

Etinosa’s work focuses on underreported societal issues as it affects the everyday Nigerian and society at large.

Etinosa leverages on the immediate impact of photographs to shed light on issues that she is passionate about.

When Etinosa is not on assignment, she takes her time to work on personal stories.