Biljana Jurukovski, The Mundari Boy (PEOPLE 2022)

Gele is a young boy that belongs to the Mundari tribe that live in South Sudan. As a young boy during my stay with the tribe he showed me the importance of working with the environment and living alongside animals. It was evident his pride of who he is is and the importance of his cultural identity. His body was covered in ash from burned dung from the Ankola Watusi cattle in order to protect him from insect bites. From young age he has been allocated a calf that he is looking after and is fully responsible for the well being of his calf. Every day he is massaging his calf with ash and is rubbing the little horns to keep them shine. The connection between Gele and cattle was palpable in the dusty air; it was beautiful. Photographed with the horns are symbolising the connection between humans and the environment in which Mundari people live.

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