Uploads from Eric Lafforgue, tagged afrique, with geodata

Crowd Gathering In The Lamu Cemetery Celebration Of Maulidi, Lamu, Kenya

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 06:03:01 -0700

The festival of Maulidi takes place every year in Muslim-majority countries during the whole third month of the Arabic calendar, alleged date when Prophet Mohammed was born. In Lamu, Kenya, a small town on the eponymous island, 99% of the population is Muslim. And this particular celebration is important. It brings together thousands of worshipers from Kenya as well as from other parts of East Africa, the Middle East and other parts of the world.
The introduction of Tariqa (a school of Sufism) by Ali Habib Swaleh, a Comoran Shariff is the reason why Lamu became an important religion center on the XIXth Century…and still attracts many people from the Comoro Islands. Maulidi climaxes during the two last days, when the Mawlid (religious poetry) are being recited incessantly while the men and young boys parade from Swaleh’s grave to the island’s main Mosque Riyadha in a colorful procession.
Maulidi is famous for its boat races taking place close to the seashore and donkey races in the streets, which put the city in a fever of excitement during a few weeks. There is also this strange dance with a stick called Goma: White djellaba-dressed men standing in a row sway a walking stick in front of them, to the hypnotic rhythm of drums.

© Eric Lafforgue
www.ericlafforgue.com

Man chewing khat during Maulidi, Lamu, Kenya

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 06:01:14 -0700

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

If you see someone with a swollen cheek and tossing small greenish leaves in his mouth in a smoky room ina deafening hurly-burly, there is high probability that he is a khat (pronounce “cot”; as well spelled qat in Yemen, gat or qaad in Somalia, jad, chad or chat in Ethiopia, tohai, tschat or miraa in Kenya, marungi in Uganda and Rwanda; in latin Catha edulis) user.
Whether this flowering evergreen tree with large shrubs is native of the Horn of Africa or the Arabian Peninsula is still unknown. The fresh khat leaves are alternatively chewed and kept in the cheek and the juice swallowed. Some swallow the leaves and juice altogether, but others prefer to spit it once they have lost all their properties.

Khat leaves contain a drug made up of two alkaloid molecules (cathine and cathinone organic compounds), which have psychotropic effects. This substance influences on the brain, causing excitement, euphoria, and loss of appetite and sleepiness. It is much appreciated by workers, long journey drivers and students, since it enhances concentration and muscular force. Low consumers say it acts like a strong coffee, but khat is as powerful as amphetamines some scientists reckon. Anyhow it is somewhat addictive and some of the biggest users have been reported prone to withdrawal symptoms. Therefore at a high dose, khat can lead to mental diseases as psychosis or cause heart problems. Frequently used, the cathinone leads to a rise of blood pressure and heart rate. Also it was given evidence that a long-term use of khat favors oral cancers.
More than the substance itself, it is the particular context of its use that makes khat attractive. On the contrary of some hallucinogen drugs that favor soul-searching, khat brings openness and mental clearness, enabling easier relationships with fellow consumers. And more than the plant itself, it is the consumption of sugary drinks (in order to mask the slight bitterness) and tobacco associated with khat chewing which is problematic.

An estimated 10 million people are khat users in the world today. The biggest consumption is in Yemen, followed by Ethiopia. Somalia as well copes with a large number of consumers whereas it has been prohibited by Al-Shebaab Islamic militancy movement that controls parts of the Somali territory since “it is responsible for youth unemployment”, they said.
It is prohibited as a drug in most western countries, except the Netherlands, where khat trading is free and the U.K., where it is considered as a class C drug but legally sold in a few groceries. The Somali diaspora’s consumption is a problem when khat is reputed illegal in the country they settled in: they must infringe the law if they want to keep on chewing.

Kenya, Yemen and Ethiopia are major international producers. Fresh khat leaves have passed to be one of Ethiopia’s biggest exports crops, still ranking after coffee but close. Ethiopian khat is grown in the Kaffa area, while it is sold in Harar in the East. Neighboring Awadai city, where it is legal and as widespread as coffee or alcohol, is entirely devoted to the selling of khat. It is an international hub from which every night, loaded trucks leave for Somalia, Djibouti and the Arabian Peninsula, while planes take of in direction of Amsterdam and London airports. Indeed, khat must keep fresh to have the maximum efficiency. An estimated 25,000 kilograms per day are sold through Awadai hub market.
Khat growing is twice as profitable as coffee. Therefore, over the past few years, it has been replacing the small family farms crops, and it has endangered a lot the coffee economy.

Especially men consider khat get-togethers as a social institution or habit that contributes to the creation of a cultural identity. Eventually, the khat chewing ritual has been taking place for centuries among the societies of the horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia), where a lot of people consume khat on a daily basis. They even call the leaves “the Muslims’ alcohol”.
Women are less prone than men to khat consumption. Still some of them chew it as well. In some countries female Khat chewers are associated with sexual working. Khat affects pregnant women by reducing maternal daily food intake and mean birth weight of the offspring.

Money is another important issue. Indeed, khat is relatively costly.
Economically speaking, khat diverts household income that could have been used for nutritious food, home improvements, education or other family needs that people on those countries are in very big need for. For some families, one person’s daily consumption price is equivalent amount for feeding the whole family. It is clear that, poverty, poor health, poor housing, poor education and social isolation are common characteristics of those that use khat.

Father Carrying Baby With Coaled Eyelids During Maulidi, Lamu, Kenya

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 06:03:24 -0700

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

Lamu is a small town on Lamu Island, in kenya, near the Somalia border.
Lamu town is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it was one of the original Swahili settlements along coastal East Africa.
The town's history is marked by a Portuguese invasion then the Omani domination, like in Zanzibar. The streets of Lamu are very narrow, so there are no cars, only donkeys to carry everything!

© Eric Lafforgue
www.ericlafforgue.com

A Young Girl's Portrait, In The Half Light Of Dusk, Lamu, Kenya

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 05:58:41 -0700

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

Donga stick fighting in Surma Suri tribe , Omo Ethiopia

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 01:36:10 -0700

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

One of the main Surma / Suri customs is stick fighting. This ritual and sport is called Donga or Sagenai (Saginay). Donga is both the name of the sport and the stick, whereas sagenai is the name of the stick-fighting session. Stick fighting is central in Suri culture. In most cases, stick fighting is a way for warriors to find girlfriends, it can also be a way to settle conflicts. On this occasion men show their courage, their virility and their resistance to pain, to the young women. The fights are held between Suri villages, and begin with 20 to 30 people on each side, and can end up with hundreds of warriors involved. Suri are famous for stick fighting, but they are not the only ones to respect such a custom, as the neighbor tribe, the Mursi, also practice these traditional fights. The day before the sagenai, fighters have to purge themselves. They do it by drinking a special preparation, called dokai, which is made of the bark of a special tree, which is mixed with water. After taking it, warriors make themselves vomiting the drink. The water is supposed to bring with it many of the body’s impurities. After this ritual they don’t eat until the following morning. Warriors walk kilometers to come fighting at Sagenai, which takes place in a clearing. They stop when crossing a river in order to wash themselves, before decorating their bodies for the fight. They decorate themselves by sliding the fingers full of clay on the warrior’s bodies. This dressing up and decoration is meant to show their beauty and virility and thus catch the women’s attention. The phallic shape ending the sticks contributes to that virile demonstration. Fighters arrive on the Donga field all together, carrying the strongest man,dancing and singing. Some fighters wear colourful headdresses sometimes with feathers on it, and also knee-protectors. But most of them use no protection at all and fight completely naked in order to show their bravery. They also wear strings of decorative coloured beads around their necks given by the girls and waist, but their genitals are most of the time uncovered and they are barefoot. All of them get a chance to fight one on one, against someone from the other side. In the beginning each fighter looks for an opponent of the same stature, and exchanges a few held back blows with him in order to test him. If both fighters feel they have found a match, they suddendly throw themselves into the fight, hitting ferocious fast strokes with their sticks. If one of the warriors knocked out or puts paid to his opponent, he immediately declares himself the winner. Sagenai consists in qualifying rounds, each winner fighting the winner of a previous fight, until two finalists are left. It is strictly forbidden to hit a man when he is down on the ground. During these fights there are referees present to make sure all rules are being followed. Many stick fights end within the first couple of hits. Nevertheless the fights are really violent, and it is quite usual to see men bleeding. Stick fighting has proven to be dangerous because people have died from being hit in the stomach. Loosing an eye or a leg during the fight is quite common, although it is strictly forbidden for a fighter to kill his opponent, and if a fighter gets killed during the fight, his opponent and all his family are banned from the village for life. For the other locals, especially teenagers, sagenai is a great outing. Girls watch the fights, but it is also the occasion to check out the men, and to meet in order to chat or even gossip. At the end of the fights, the winners point their phallic sticks in direction of the girls they want to date with, if the girl put a necklace around the stick, it means she is willing to date the champion.

© Eric Lafforgue
www.ericlafforgue.com

Donga stick fighting in Surma Suri tribe , Omo Ethiopia

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 01:34:05 -0700

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

Copper bracelets on Surma Suri woman - Omo Ethiopia

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 09:28:15 -0800

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

Surma or Suri (as they call themselves) are sedentary pastoral people living in south west of Ethiopia, on the western bank of the Omo river. These breeders tribal groups have a cattle centred culture. They breed their cattle, mostly cows, on their traditional lands, located in the Omo Valley. The economy of the Suri is based on breeding and agriculture. The grow cabbage, beans, yams, tobacco and coffee. Cows are tremendously important in Suri culture. They do not see cattle simply as a material asset but as a life ßsustaining and meaningful companion. Suri even sing songs for them and make fires to warm them. These cows are not bred for their meat and are usually not killed unless they are needed for ceremonial purposes. The Suri very rarely eat the meat of their cows, they actually breed them for their milk and their blood, which they both drink. Cows also have a social and symbolic meaning in Suri’s society. Suri men are judged on how much cattle they own. In desperate times, Suri men can risk their lives to steal cattle from other tribes.The average male in the Suri tribe owns from 30 to 40 cows. Every young male is named after their cattle, which they have to look after since the age of 8. Men are not allowed to marry until they own 60 cows. Cows are given to the bride’s family after the wedding ceremony.
This central role of the cow in their way of life accounts for the fierce independance they want to preserve and explains their warlike culture. Indeed, it’s quite common to see men and even women carrying weapons which are part of the daily life. Their remote homeland has always been a place of traditional rivalries with the neighbouring tribes such as the Bume (Nyangatom) or the Toposa. who regurlarly team up to raid the Suri’s cattle. These fights, and even sometimes battles, have become quite bloody since automatic firearms have become available from the parties in the Sudanese Civil War. This conflict has pushed neighboring tribes into Suri’s land and is a constant competition to keep and protect their territory and their cattle. A battle in ended up with the death of hundreds of Suri, including women and children.
The 40 to 1,000 inhabitants villages of the Suri, are led by a ritual chief known as the Komoru, dressed in colourful robes and wearing a crown of baboon fur. Village life is largely communal, sharing the produce of the cattle (milk and blood). Decisions of the village are taken by the men in an assembly. These debates are led by the Komoru, who are merely the most respected elder in a village even if they can be removed.
Although their traditional remoteness and autarky is threathened, only few Surma are familiar with Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia, and their literacy level is very low.

© Eric Lafforgue
www.ericlafforgue.com

Elbow decoration in Donga stick fighting in Surma Suri tribe , Omo Ethiopia

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 09:21:15 -0800

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

Surma baby with mother - Omo Ethiopia

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 09:13:14 -0800

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

Like in all the African countries, Surma babies and young kids do not leave their mother, even when she is working. This one in Turgit, was sitting betwwen the feet of his mother and was following the rythm of the work!

© Eric Lafforgue
www.ericlafforgue.com

Losing the Donga stick fight in Surma Suri tribe - Omo Ethiopia

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 09:01:19 -0800

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

The fighter sits on the ground, it means he gives up the fight.

One of the main Surma / Suri customs is stick fighting. This ritual and sport is called Donga or Sagenai (Saginay). Donga is both the name of the sport and the stick, whereas sagenai is the name of the stick-fighting session. Stick fighting is central in Suri culture. In most cases, stick fighting is a way for warriors to find girlfriends, it can also be a way to settle conflicts. On this occasion men show their courage, their virility and their resistance to pain, to the young women. The fights are held between Suri villages, and begin with 20 to 30 people on each side, and can end up with hundreds of warriors involved. Suri are famous for stick fighting, but they are not the only ones to respect such a custom, as the neighbor tribe, the Mursi, also practice these traditional fights. The day before the sagenai, fighters have to purge themselves. They do it by drinking a special preparation, called dokai, which is made of the bark of a special tree, which is mixed with water. After taking it, warriors make themselves vomiting the drink. The water is supposed to bring with it many of the body’s impurities. After this ritual they don’t eat until the following morning. Warriors walk kilometers to come fighting at Sagenai, which takes place in a clearing. They stop when crossing a river in order to wash themselves, before decorating their bodies for the fight. They decorate themselves by sliding the fingers full of clay on the warrior’s bodies. This dressing up and decoration is meant to show their beauty and virility and thus catch the women’s attention. The phallic shape ending the sticks contributes to that virile demonstration. Fighters arrive on the Donga field all together, carrying the strongest man,dancing and singing. Some fighters wear colourful headdresses sometimes with feathers on it, and also knee-protectors. But most of them use no protection at all and fight completely naked in order to show their bravery. They also wear strings of decorative coloured beads around their necks given by the girls and waist, but their genitals are most of the time uncovered and they are barefoot. All of them get a chance to fight one on one, against someone from the other side. In the beginning each fighter looks for an opponent of the same stature, and exchanges a few held back blows with him in order to test him. If both fighters feel they have found a match, they suddendly throw themselves into the fight, hitting ferocious fast strokes with their sticks. If one of the warriors knocked out or puts paid to his opponent, he immediately declares himself the winner. Sagenai consists in qualifying rounds, each winner fighting the winner of a previous fight, until two finalists are left. It is strictly forbidden to hit a man when he is down on the ground. During these fights there are referees present to make sure all rules are being followed. Many stick fights end within the first couple of hits. Nevertheless the fights are really violent, and it is quite usual to see men bleeding. Stick fighting has proven to be dangerous because people have died from being hit in the stomach. Loosing an eye or a leg during the fight is quite common, although it is strictly forbidden for a fighter to kill his opponent, and if a fighter gets killed during the fight, his opponent and all his family are banned from the village for life. For the other locals, especially teenagers, sagenai is a great outing. Girls watch the fights, but it is also the occasion to check out the men, and to meet in order to chat or even gossip. At the end of the fights, the winners point their phallic sticks in direction of the girls they want to date with, if the girl put a necklace around the stick, it means she is willing to date the champion.

© Eric Lafforgue
www.ericlafforgue.com

Donga stick fighting in Surma Suri tribe , Omo Ethiopia

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 08:59:40 -0800

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

Man with big ear during Donga stick fight in Surma Suri tribe - Omo Ethiopia

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 08:57:25 -0800

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

Kofia Headed Young Boy Brandishing His Reward: Banknote In Lamu, Kenya

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 06:02:25 -0700

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

Lamu

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 06:00:21 -0700

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

Player Contemplative In Front Of Checkerboard, Lamu, Kenya

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 06:00:53 -0700

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

Takwa Ruins Manda Island, Lamu, Kenya

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 06:01:52 -0700

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

The Takwa Ruins was a 1500-1700 people town, and it was designated a Kenyan National Monument in 1982.

© Eric Lafforgue
www.ericlafforgue.com

Man Folding Sail On Dhow Prow During Race, Maulidi Festival, Lamu Kenya

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 05:59:32 -0700

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

The big race is an event in Lamu as most of the people use to have a boat or work for a boat. It is an honor to be in the race , even if the winner will only win a..sail.
The dhow have mostly names of football teams, like Arsenal, or footballers like Arshavin!

© Eric Lafforgue
www.ericlafforgue.com

Donkey race for Maulidi - Lamu kenya

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:33:31 -0700

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

There were two races. For the finale, the jockeys were not happy with the money promised to the winners, so they decided to go on..strike! The donkeys have funny names like: Obama, Rooney, Vieria, Messi...
Lamu is a small town on Lamu Island, in kenya, near the Somalia border.
Lamu town is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it was one of the original Swahili settlements along coastal East Africa.
The town's history is marked by a Portuguese invasion then the Omani domination, like in Zanzibar. The streets of Lamu are very narrow, so there are no cars, only donkeys to carry everything!

© Eric Lafforgue
www.ericlafforgue.com

Kids singing for Maulidi - Lamu Kenya

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:34:06 -0700

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo:

Miss Nachure, Surma Suri woman face with scarifications - Kibish Ethiopia

nobody@flickr.com (Eric Lafforgue) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 09:02:44 -0800

Eric Lafforgue posted a photo: