The festival was cancelled. The road was under construction so there was nowhere to perform. No problem that the handful of tourists couldn’t get in. But they needed a stage. We’d come all the way to Yunnan to see a festival that wasn’t happening. No-body dresses in traditional costume any Read more
Revisiting fond memories is always a risk. We knew that. Returning to Turmi after five years was indeed a bit of a disappointment. The market was, on the surface, the same. Hammer men and women stood around in traditional costumes. The men in their striped loin cloths, holding their small Read more
We were in the Omo Valley in 2011. An amazing place with many different tribes still living a traditional life. We were back to revisit old friends and explore some new ones. The Surma live to the west of the Omo River. Off the beaten track. Which is why we Read more
The landscape changed gradually from bustling town to sugar cane plantations to dusty villages with grass-topped mud huts. My destination was Kibuku in Uganda’s Eastern Province. We were visiting Samuel’s clan for their annual gathering. Well, his mother’s clan actually. Samuel takes the clan of his father. It is the Read more
The Goroka show is the highlight of the PNG cultural calendar. Of the 800+ tribes in PNG, about 50 make the journey each year to showcase their culture at the Goroka show. In a country of few roads or navigable rivers this may mean a journey of many weeks. The Read more
There are over 800 tribes in Papua New Guinea, each with its own language, making this one of the most diverse countries in the world. Each tribe may only cover the area of one village giving each one it’s own unique tribal culture. Sing-sings are the traditional welcome to each Read more