I like cows but draw the line somewhere.....

Have a look at your copy of Sudan: The Land and the People, Saeed and you will find Michael Freeman's pictures of a Mandari cattle camp we visited.

Missing in the pix you posted is the note that the Mandari burn cattle droppings and cover themselves in the ash to repel mosquitoes.

Regards, Tim

Great photos!

Fascinating, but a lifestyle rapidly disappearing. Small bands with cattle are vulnerable to bandits, which roam the region too. This has caused many of those small bands without their own herds, but now they get hired by large cattle owners, who equip them with medicine for the cattle (which causes the herds to grow more) and weapons to defend themselves and the cattle. Similar lifestyle, but now with weapons, they don't eat cattle, but they do eat meat, so you can imagine what's happening with the wildlife in the region.

Welcome to the 16th century, alive and well in most of Africa.

Don't know if I would want to shake hands with those people and I'll bet they're real resistant to illnesses. If you never eat the cattle then they crowd out the wildlife.

Up to 4+ decades ago the Masai and Wakwavi weren't much different.

I feel almost, but not quite, the same way about my automobiles.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
Welcome to the 16th century, alive and well in most of Africa.

.......and slowly creeping towards to 15th century.

I was fortunate to grow up on a livestock farm with Carte Blanche from parents and grandparents. I lived as a barbarian, and we was in shit daily, literally and figuratively. No, my boyhood was not as hard, but very familiar. We all grew hale and hearty. It’s a wonderful life that’s vanishing even here.

quote:

Originally posted by tomahawker:
I was fortunate to grow up on a livestock farm with Carte Blanche from parents and grandparents. I lived as a barbarian, and we was in shit daily, literally and figuratively. No, my boyhood was not as hard, but very familiar. We all grew hale and hearty. It’s a wonderful life that’s vanishing even here.

Great post, and as far as this tribe in Sudan, I’m happy to see that some people are still living a traditional way of life.

I really enjoyed that! I saw them there nearly 40 years ago, during better, simpler times, and I have very fond memories of the whole of the Sudan. But sadly, I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon.