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11.8 MEGAPIXEL

South Sudan View gallery (40 photos)

Ash and Dust sent on 29 Aprile 2026 (9:47) by Roberto Pazzi. 4 comments, 144 views.

1/500 f/3.2, ISO 200, hand held.

A Mundari boy rubbing himself with a mixture of ash and sand (South Sudan). HUMANKIND, my premium, limited-edition, museum-quality standard book featuring over 200 large-format photos. Available on my website: https://robertopazziphoto.com The Mundari are cattle herders who live in close symbiosis with their Ankole Watusi cattle, whose large horns are a defining feature. Their social structure, economy, and identity revolve around livestock, which are valued mainly for milk, cultural status, and social exchange rather than meat. Cattle are individually named and cared for, and they play a key role in community relationships. Life in a cattle camp is organized around shared responsibilities. Children perform much of the daily work, collecting fresh cow dung and piling it to be burned. The resulting smoke helps repel the extremely numerous mosquitoes of the region and provides a measure of comfort in the floodplain environment. Through these tasks, children learn practical skills from an early age. Men guide the herds to pasture during the day, relying on detailed knowledge of the land, seasons, and animal behavior. Ash from the dung fires is rubbed on both people and cattle twice daily, offering protection from insects and sun while contributing to hygiene. This ash gives the camp its characteristic pale appearance. The cattle graze along the banks of the White Nile and in the surrounding grasses, returning instinctively at dusk. In the evening, dust from the herd mixes with smoke from the fires, creating a distinctive atmosphere. Men also bathe in cow urine, believed to act as a natural antiseptic and cleanser, a practice that colors their hair orange. At night, children sleep among the cattle for warmth and protection, often using fine ash from the fires as bedding, reinforcing the deep bond between people and animals. Website: https://robertopazziphoto.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/roberto_pazzi_photo

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17 persons like it: Alebizzo, Anguar, Bruno_pratico, BucciaFla, Fab0569, Fabrizios53, Franco Galattica, Gaia Alessandro, Gian Luca T, Kalos, Marco Marino, Massimo Feliziani, Nonnachecca, Obbes, Pistolino, Sandro Peddis, Vincenzo Sciumè

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Massimo Feliziani

sent on 29 Aprile 2026 (10:00) | This comment has been automatically translated (show/hide original)

What a beautiful photo... What lens did you use?

Roberto Pazzi

sent on 29 Aprile 2026 (10:38) | This comment has been automatically translated (show/hide original)

Thank you Massimo! I used the Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens.

Obbes

sent on 29 Aprile 2026 (12:28) | This comment has been automatically translated (show/hide original)

Beautiful shot, fantastic light.

Roberto Pazzi

sent on 29 Aprile 2026 (13:08) | This comment has been automatically translated (show/hide original)

Thanks Obbes!

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