To witness such a moment was to step into something ancient and meditative, yet deeply in the present moment. The air was filled with dust and movement, the rhythmic stomping of feet, ululations, chants and the calls of dancers. Scenes shifted seamlessly between apparent chaos, coordinated choreography and role plays, all orchestrated by elders who set the tempo, tone and rhythm.
Everything about the experience had a deeply physical presence. The heat, the weight of the jewellery, the glint of sweat and the intensity of the tribe’s collective energy. Throughout, the chief stood grounded at the heart of it all, his pride and authority unmistakable.
Though outsiders to the tradition, the experience felt immersive, elemental and deeply affecting… a reminder of how culture and environment shape one another over time, and how many different types of lives exist alongside our own. It really felt like an antidote to the globalisation of cultures and tradition; this was something that can be described as truly unique and stand-alone.