The Talle Family - Banlieux - Paris

This project was made in the aftermath of the riots which broke out in the banlieue of Paris in 2005. Nicolas Sarkozy, the then French Interior Minister, blamed the violence on polygamous African families, famously calling them 'scum'. I wanted to see what life inside one of these families was like and was fortunate when the Tall family generously opened their doors to me.

Talle Abdou, the head of the family, came to France from Mali in the 70's leaving his wife Talle Feinda in Africa. After a few years working in Paris he legally married Talle Hamssatou, who already had 8 children from a previous marriage. A few years later his original wife Talle Feinda joined them in Paris and together they now have 15 children.

Three years ago Abdou and Feinda were obliged to divorce in order to keep their work permits as a result of the government's new Pasqua laws. The two women now live 10 minutes walk from each other in the Paris suburb of Clichy-Sous-Bois. Their husband now spends three nights at a time with each. The children, grandchildren and the rest of the extended family also move between the mothers and regard both apartments as home.

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