South African photographer Paul Shiakallis produced a series of photos, “Leathered Skins, Unchained Hearts,” of the “queens” of Botswana’s heavy metal “Marok” scene, mostly in their homes.
The portraits were shot in the Gaborone, the capital city, and display the tension between traditional Botswanan patriarchy and transgressive self-expression. The Maroks cross over with Botswana’s biker scene, which, in turn, borrows elements from the country’s farmers, like leather vests.
