Photographer's Note
How wonderful to dance with abandon, to connect with the rhythm of your people's heartbeat, to experience a sense of belonging to the past, the present and feel the blood rushing, the heart beating towards the future.To dance and forget your people's colonial past, the insults, the poverty...to believe in oneself once again.
I salvaged this photo from my first trip overseas when I was keen to take slides with my trusty Minolta SRT101.
I cannot recollect where exactly I photographed this group of energetic and authentic dancers.I remember that we visited a large, fine white building, a hotel maybe, built in the English style on a raised terrain covered in green lawn. To the side was a cultural village where these fine people put on a cultural show.
The Kikuyu are Kenya’s largest ethnic group. The Kikuyu (otherwise spelled Gikuyu) tribe settled on the fertile central highlands, which they farm. These areas include the modern day Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Muranga and Thika towns.
The Kikuyu were the most active tribe during the fight for Kenya’s independence. The famous Mau Mau rebellion was mainly composed of Kikuyus. The Mau Mau were lead by Dedan Kimathi who was credited for helping organize resistance which led to defeat of the colonial government. Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, was a Kikuyu, giving the tribe a major boost politically and economically.
Image scanned from an old slide.
No_One, ikeharel, adores, cagla, rychem, ourania, kasianowak, kasianowak, Angshu, Wanda1 έχουν(ει) επιλέξει αυτή τη σημείωση ως χρήσιμη
Critiques | Translate
corjan3
(2109) 2014-09-05 4:36
Hello Klaudio,
Amazing that it was viewed 54 times and no points were awarded. It is a beautiful and colourful image with an interesting note. I do not suppose a certain amount of amputation could have been avoided. Well done with bringing this image out of the archive.
Neels
Gerrit
(59968) 2014-09-05 5:05
Hi Klaudio,
wonderful scene. I like the way you captured the trance of this men. Their outfits with bodypaints are fantastic.
regards, Gerrit
Sergiom
(117241) 2014-09-05 5:47
Bonjour Klaudio,
Quelle belle photo sortie de tes archives. La numιrisation est trθs bien faite. Une photo digne du National Geographic.
Amicalement
Serge
No_One
(4) 2014-09-05 6:43
Hi Klaudio,
This is a beautiful shot, these people really seem to be dancing with true abandon, and their expressions and the capture of the movement is done brilliantly. The backdrop of the traditional hut is perct for the view too. Amazing that this was a display beside a modern hotel, it looks like it was taken in a place far away from what we know as the modern world. Really nicely done, thanks for sharing.
Noel
dkmurphys
(78000) 2014-09-05 6:53
Hi Klaudio,
Spectacular capture fitted on a perfect frame. A real travel document, well taken.
Daniel
adores
(46979) 2014-09-05 8:37
Hi Klaudio!
I really miss Africa and I'm glad you're posting this old one. Considering the year it was taken, you have done a very good work with the scanner. I like it, their expressions, the paintings, the colours... Very well done!
jemaflor
(135484) 2014-09-05 23:06
Hi Klaudio,
Well captured, interesting scene about these people dancing, good light management, tfs.
cagla
(4342) 2014-09-06 13:59
Hi Klaudio, how wonderful this one is. You must have a treasure of old photo albums, and it must really be a heavy work to scan and organise them, right? I loved to read your note as usual. The trance on their face is dramatic. Thanks for sharing. Have a nice Sunday.
PS. I'm like I read somewhere that you are going to visit Iran, am I right? Are you planning to come to here also?
rychem
(72179) 2014-09-06 22:47
This scanned photo has a historical value, a documentary photo of people who remember the old rites, and today there is already a new generation, well captured and presented
regards Ryszard
wolf38
(30) 2014-09-07 0:52
Hello Klaudio. You've captured here a mystical moment very well with your camera. The viewer feels transported back to the past. In that time sacrifice had to be offered to appease the spirits. And the trance was one of those rituals.
The text of the photo is very revealing.
Rgds, Wolfgang.
ourania
(51103) 2014-09-07 12:35
Hello Klaudio,
this scene is utterly fascinating and you really made the most of it with your presentation. There's the dancers' exotic appearance, the intensity and the motion in the tight frame, their abandon and closed eyes, the compact effect of the textures and the mysterious play of colours. Attractive and captivating though it may be, this scene seems to show only the surface of an amazingly deep and exciting tradition. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a great week,
Ourania
kasianowak
(15848) 2014-09-08 5:28
Zdravo Klaudio
Good to see a photo from your archives. Great quality of this image taken on slide film over 30 years ago and the moment well captured.
I read your note with interest.
Pozdrav
Kasia
fabbs99
(17179) 2014-09-08 23:52
Hello Klaudio,
Superb composition of the group of Africans.Very well composed photo with excellent vivid colors.Keep sharing.TFS.
Regards
Farhat
Angshu
(56760) 2014-09-09 21:21
Hello Klaudio
The scan result is beautiful...we can still all the details well...The men with their bodies painted...I believe this is a sign of warriors...even though Kiyukus are not known to be one. The straws of the thatched hut creates a good BG
Best Regards
Angshu
sayeed_rahman
(6461) 2014-09-10 10:48
And these experiences are vital too for a traveler, photographer, leaner, lover of life and cultures. Happy that you chose these destinations, some day if there is a calling i might too. you have captured the performers at a very intense mood, nice. would love to see more detail in body art and accessories.
Wanda1
(15142) 2014-09-12 23:14
Hi Klaudio,
One from your archives that I am glad you found, it is an interesting tribal image. One can feel the movement as they go through their dance ritual, and it is always fascinating to see the traditional dress and decorations of various peoples.
Regards
Wanda
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Klaudio Branko Dadich (daddo)
(28728)
- Genre: Τοποθεσίες
- Medium: Έγχρωμο
- Date Taken: 1980-02-00
- Categories: Τελετή
- Έκδοση φωτογραφίας: Πρωτότυπη έκδοση
- Date Submitted: 2014-09-05 2:02
Discussions
- To corjan3: Amputation (1)
by daddo, last updated 2014-09-05 05:34 - To cagla: Iran (1)
by daddo, last updated 2014-09-06 04:32 - To cristina1: Non so se... (1)
by daddo, last updated 2015-05-22 04:23