Burundi

Makamba Kid

There are all kinds of odd things that pass by your eyes when you're on the road packed in the front seat of minibus headed to Bujumbura from the border with Tanzania. In fact, the adventure begins while waiting for the bus to leave. Waiting two hours gives you an opportunity to settle into a place. And when the place is tiny and not frequented by many mzunjus like Makamba, it's extraordinary.

This is a blog about photography but let's just say today was distinctive in how little was spoken and how much was just observed. And I spent most of the day sitting on my butt.

This shot is of one of the kids who was following me around and wanted to be photographed striking hip-hop style poses. When I saw the homemade tribal marking on his or her arm I was a tad taken back. I asked about it and everyone who had one showed me theirs. All of them were homemade and, it would seem, hastily done. It was both a source of pride and mockery depending on your perspective in the group that had gathered around. Knowing the recently ended war here in Burundi is still a sore subject, I let it go at that and made my portrait. I like that there's one letter on the shirt and one on the arm. You can't style this stuff.

Make pictures.