The Echo of The Nuba - A World That Has Been Lost

• Prize
  Bronze in People/Culture
• Photographer
  Philipp Schmieja
• Technical Info
  Hasselblad X2d 100c, 90v 2.5
• Photo Date
  April 2025

The Nuba people are dancers, warriors, masters of resilience. They inhabit the Nuba mountains in the South Kordofan region of war-torn Sudan. A place that was completely cut off from the outside world, for decades. Amidst genocides, oppression and abysmal humanitarian conditions, they retained their distinct culture. They are one of the world's most captivating tribes with a deep connection to their homeland. The ancient practice of wrestling and stick fighting is more than a ceremony, it is a rite of passage to adulthood. The purpose is to build group identity by representing the villages.

Self-taught photographer and passionate traveler. I discovered my passion for photography during traveling African countries. I had developed a fascination for tribes. This has been underpinned by my passion for photography. Tribal people are those who have unique customs. They often have a symbiotic bond with the environments in which they live. I am using photography as a medium to capture candid moments as well as community spirit and portraits.