In the lower valley of Omo which borders Ethiopia, Kenya and the Sudan, you’ll find the Mursi and Surma tribes. This is Africa at it’s wildest. The influence of nature on the last remaining tribal cultures in Africa has beautifully recorded by Hans Silvester. What fascinates me is the random spontaneity with which the Omo adorn themselves, often with the closest natural elements at hand.

Just a couple of days to the kick off of the World Cup finals in South Africa. I very much hope an African country will win. And esp that the poor will benefit from this commercial circus. Let’s hope the new stadion in South Africa, costs €500 million, can make dreams happen… although I am afraid it would have been much better for many people to invest all this money in safe playgrounds, sports and education for the children living in the townships.

Look to the natural world for inspiration. But look closely. Individual composition that takes away all the preconceptions of what is right or wrong has its roots in ethnicity. Enjoy Africa’s true colours while you still can- fragile societies are fast loosing their identity to the encroachment of urban sprawl.

Portraits by Hans Silvester