the soil

Just in case we forget how beautiful, vibrant and unique Africa and her people are I found these inspiring and for me spiritual pictures by Photographers Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher, they have over 30 years’ experience recording ceremonies, rituals and daily life of African tribal peoples. These photographs reflect a long and deep relationship of respect for the customs and people of these tribes, especially those of the Dinka.

The Dinka are a Nilotic ethnic group from South Sudan. They have lived from the tenth century on both sides of the Nile River and speak a language belonging to the Nilo-Saharan group. They are about three million and are divided into about 21 groups, each with its own legitimate leader.

African people are beautiful and exotic. Born of Queens and Kings, we wear our humility like a shield and carry ourselves with dignity even in the most difficult of circumstances. We have lived for generations under the rule of others but still find it within ourselves to love and accept our neighbour. We have moved through life persecuted and hated but the principles of “Ubuntu” and love have remained part of our culture. We live in our world connected to a culture that is rich and poetic. We know who we are, where we come from but yet this knowledge has not left us jaded or bitter. We are open and real like the hard earth that gives us life and wealth and health. We remain rooted to the world our ancestors called home and we understand that Africa is a part of us like our skin and hair, it gives us our distinctive features but does not define us.

We dance with our hearts and sing with our souls. We see a world of possibilities even when our streets burn from wars started by men we don’t know for reasons not clear to us. We love, oh we love like the people in our lives are immortal and mourn for them with such passion when we discover they are not. We hold elaborate funerals and build monuments to the ones we lovemonuments we hope will last for as long as the continent stands, so that those who come after us see the testament of our love.

I’m proud to have been born here, to call this land home and to call Africans my people. Everything I’m comes from the suffering, the joy, the love and the beauty of this land. "Na khensa"