ON THE OTHER SIDE
After focusing on the economic crisis in Angola for several weeks, primarily in the hectic city of Luanda, my production team and I uncovered countless stories highlighting the challenging daily situations faced by many inhabitants of this 8-million-strong city, with infrastructure originally built for just one million people. I found myself yearning for tranquility, nature and simplicity. I sought to experience and understand the other side of this society; an existence not wholly dependent on the conventional economic system. an overload of stimuli – mountains of waste, exhaust fumes, rampant consumer culture, and the stark contrast between rich and poor – had taken its toll on me.
After conducting our research and enduring a long drive, we were welcomed by a rural ethnic community. The Nyanecas, Handas and Mucubais, to name just a few, are groups in Angola who live in the most remote areas, far removed from the impacts of globalization. For hundreds of centuries, they have coexisted harmoniously with nature, living in a sustainable and respectful manner, giving and taking to preserve their environment. This wisdom is reflected in their very being – in their faces and in the graceful way they move. Their consciousness is innate, having been passed down through generations along with their ability to locate water in its various forms to survive in this barren land.
It seemed as though the structures of stone and wood, shaped by the weather, were also mirrored in their skin. A different kind of beauty. The calloused feet of a woman spoke of strength and perseverance – this was a woman who could walk for miles.
The only items that appeared to originate from the outside world were the colourful beads, used in trade for goods in town, which adorned the women from head to toe, making them resemble beautiful desert flowers. I undoubtedly absorbed many wise, unspoken messages from this encounter as we headed back to Luanda. Perhaps it all begins with a love and respect for life and all living things. I felt calm and grounded as I opened the door to my no-doubt over-equipped apartment.
