Life in the Transkei

This collection of work was photographed in the Transkei region of South Africa. The majority population here are the amaXhosa people, who have given the world such figures as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. They have lived in this region for centuries, and the area has become a confluence of tradition and modernity. It isn't uncommon to find locals driving down the winding dirt roads of the Transkei in European sports cars while on their way to traditional village ceremonies, or drinking coca-cola as part of their tribal customs. Traditions are intermarried with the convenience of modern technology, and the increasing industrialization of South Africa has gradually encroached upon even the most rural areas. These photographs were created during the winter months when people are busy not just with everyday life, which may include farming, manufacturing, or mining, but also with traditional events such as the Ulwaluko coming of age ceremony. While Africa may still be considered by some as "The Dark Continent", in my work I aim to show the interconnectedness of people here and elsewhere in the world, and that no man or woman is an island unto themselves. We are all connected, culturally, technologically, spiritually, and the commonalities of mankind are seen even in the most remote regions of our world - perhaps to the surprise of many.