Traveling through the mists of time to the Omo Valley in Ethiopia
just home – an adventure beyond words and worlds
so many tales to tell and photos
just beginning to work with them
on the go every day
up at 5 am to catch the beautiful dawn in the tribal villages
amazing skies every day
cascading clouds blue skies
afternoon thunder rumbling
short rain and then sometimes a rainbow
the people and customs and cultural diversity astounding
mankind may have begun here
though this may be the endgame
the Turkish are clearing the forests and planting cotton fields
the Chinese government is building a massive dam project and the flood plain agriculture practiced here for all time
will soon end
we talk with the local guides
the people know to varying degrees that their life will be changing very soon
they would prefer to be left alone and untill recently
lived on the barter system
but now they pose for us
and ask for money for each picture
we feel like human Atms
and they feel
like they have reluctantly joined this game
I mean we show up at their homes and villages
(I wonder sometimes should we even be here)
and they might as well make what they can from it
it sets up a strange dynamic
that is hard to pierce
but if one takes the time
and spends some time in a village
and puts down their camera
and takes part in some of the rituals
It is possible to connect and hear each other
and say I want to tell your stories
I hope there is a way to move forward
for tribal life to progress
to have better health care and schools and clean water
new income streams and some economic potential
with out obliterating tribal traditions
and I wonder what’s next…
I think of how many times in history this story has been played out by native populations
trying to save their way of life…
Terri Gold World Imagery 