AfricART

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Uganda | Monday, August 16, 2010 | 5 photos

I am walking through a maze of narrow dirt laneways at the Westland’s market in Nairobi that seem to never end. Around every corner I walk, there they are, sitting silently creating their works of art. They look up and smile. I say “Jambo” (Hello), “Jambo” they reply. They offer me brightly coloured bracelets, artworks, sculptures and woodwork, all depicting the African culture.

Skilful craftsmen and women, all are striving to make a living. I can’t help but buy some of their beautiful goods, could you resist?

I sit here staring into the eyes of the highly endangered Mountain Gorilla thinking that the world would be a lesser place without them.
They are truly fascinating, intelligent, highly sociable, playful and gentle creatures.
Their small and fragile populations are found in a truly remarkable region of Africa. My visit took me to the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda. I sat with a family of 9 Mountain Gorillas for 1 hour, as I left I thought that we are all truly connected.

The Masai people of East Africa embody the spirit of the African landscape. Their strong and kind faces reveal a history and a culture that is linked to their timeless traditions of farming and family.

Their distinctive jewellery, dancing and robes symbolise the Masai hierarchy within their community.

To visit the Masai was to travel to another time, a spiritual experience combining the land, the animals and the family into the mystery that is the Masai.
Travelling across the serengetti now...amazing light, try to capture it as we drive...snap...nice shot!

Time for a rest and a cool ale now...we find a pub, have a drink...reminds me of home with friends, ahhh a good time had by all, time to reflect on the beauty of the African people, animals and landscape.