Body modification: projected identities, beliefs and belonging

admiring Mundari tribe body modification during trip to South Sudan

Tattoos, piercings, scarification, and other permanent body modification reveal one of the oldest and most universal forms of nonverbal communication. Since the dawn of humanity, the body has been far more than a biological vessel: it is canvas, shield, and narrative. Upon it are projected identities, hierarchies, beliefs, and senses of belonging that transcend the […]

The Larim tribe of South Sudan, artisans of the hills

meeting with Larim tribe woman with traditional dressing during trip to South Sudan I encuentro con mujer de la tribu larim con vestido tradicional durante viaje a Sudan del Sur

The Larim tribe, known to their Toposa neighbors as Boyas, split from the great Murle nation after an argument over dinner. One Murle clan had invited another clan, but the other clan was not satisfied by how little gazelle meat was in the soup. They were offended and decided to migrate west. They settled in […]