Zsolt Repasy | The Fulani People

Photo © Zsolt Repasy-All Rights Reserved

Here's some facts I never knew...the Fulani are the largest migratory ethnic group in the world. They are an African ethnic group numbering more than 30 million, and are spread over many countries; predominantly found in West Africa and northern parts of Central Africa, and also in the Sudan. The extent of the territory in which the Fulani inhabit larger than the United states and Western Europe. 

Traditionally nomadic, pastoralist trading people, the Fulani herd cattle, goats and sheep across the vast dry lands of their territory. They follow a code of behavior known as pulaaku; a codifying patience, self control, discipline, prudence, modesty, respect for others (including foes), wisdom, forethought, personal responsibility, hospitality, courage, and hard work.

Zsolt Respasy's Fulbe Wuro gallery is the result of his being on assignment in Nigeria to photograph the Hungarian embassy in Abuja, and taking the opportunity to travel a bit farther than the capital.

Zsolt Repasy is a freelance photographer from Budapest, Hungary concentrating on cultural, social and humanitarian work. His action sports and travel images were featured by National Geographic, Corbis Images and Camerapixo magazine, including reportages from Transylvania, Dublin and Sarajevo, Bosnia. He is a member of IFJ (International Federation of Journalists) and photographs for Zuma Press, Corbis Images, NurPhoto and UNHCR Central Europe.

Irene Becker | Durbar Festival

Photo © Irene Becker-All Rights Reserved

I haven't posted much travel/documentary photographic work of Africa (with the exception of Ethiopia) on The Travel Photographer blog, so I'm very glad to redress this shortfall by featuring the very interesting work of Irene Becker.

One of the galleries that caught my eye was of Irene's photographs of the Grand Durbar in Argungu, Nigeria. The Durbar is an annual festival celebrated in several cities of Nigeria at the end of the Muslim festivals Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Its highlight is a parade of the Emir and his entourage on horses, accompanied by music players, and ending at the Emir's palace.

Irene tells us that the Durbar in 2009 involved more than 500 horses, 120 camels, 1760 men and women dressed in traditional indigenous attires with resplendent colors. The Emir of Argungu led a special group of horsemen in a rich and beautiful display.

The slideshow of Irene's Durbar photographs consist of 20 still images, however there are some more on her blog. There are few photographs of this event on the internet, and most of them belong to Irene.

Irene Becker describes herself as a culture, travel and doucumentary freelance photographer, and is based in Budapest, Hungary. She earned a degree at the Academy of Arts, University of Novi Sad at its Department of Music. Her images have appeared in brochures, annual reports, billboards, books, magazines, web sites, exhibit spaces, greeting cards, and have been featured in fine art gallery exhibits, as well as in individual collections of photo lovers worldwide. She also produces stock for Getty Images.