Living Tribes

A dazzling array of unique ethnic cultures still inhabit the world. Though some are fast disappearing, others have managed to retain their identity in the face of today's pressure for globalization. This extraordinary collection of photographs by Colin Prior records the surviving ways of life of fifteen of the world's most individual tribes and ethnic groups. Unlike some collections there is no artifice for the camera here. Each view of the people shows them as they really live, and Prior's images focus on expressive qualities of costume, jewellery and physiognomy, as well as the esoteric nature of such different ways of life. He brings to his photography a strong personal vision combined with supreme technical mastery of his chosen medium. From the legendary Turkana of Kenya to the Inuit of Alaska, Living Tribes is a paean to cultural diversity in the spirit of Mirella Ricciardi's Vanishing Africa. Peoples featured include the Himba, Herero, Maasai, Samburu, Turkana, Berber, Balti, Ladakhi, Bhutanese, Lisu, Padaung, Toraja, Khampa, Aborigine and Inuit. Globalization may well be the key to economic growth in some countries but it is happening at the expense of the thousands of indigenous cultures that still survive around the world. The Himba of Namibia for example have battled for five years against the proposed construction of a giant hydroelectric dam on their land. Still the government thinks to push through the plan. 'In our world a dam is a small thing that gives cattle water. What you are talking about is something else and will finish the Himba,' says Chief Katjira Muniombara. These peoples have a right to preserve their way of life. They hold vital, intimate knowledge of their environment that is passed down from generation to generation orally, in art works and handicrafts rather than being written down. Living Tribes draws attention to these cultures fighting to keep unique customs and heritage alive.… (more)