Post date: Dec 17, 2013 5:18:51 PM
An exhibition brings together images taken by photographers living in countries along the NileRiver. The exhibition, dubbed the River Tales, highlights the stories of different communities in different countries, surviving off the same life-line.
KHARTOUM, SUDAN (REUTERS) - Khartoum recently hosted an exhibition about the world's longest river. For 10 days, dozens of people gathered on a platform looking out at the Nile, which flows through the Sudanese capital to view a series of photographs telling the stories of the communities that thrive along its banks.
The exhibition was organised by the German Goethe-Insitut and brought together photographers from Egypt, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Sudan.The Nile, whose name comes from the Greek word "Nelios," meaning river valley, stretches some 6,695 km (4,184 miles) from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean and flows through six of the world's poorest countries, which are home to over 300 million people, the majority of whom live in rural areas.
Lilli Kobler, director of the institute in Sudan said the photographs showed the diversity of the cultures that live along Nile.
"We are very very happy to see so many different talented photographers and stories from the Nilefrom different parts of the Nile and I think it is clear to see that although diverse the lives of the people on the Nile, there is a unity and through the imagery of photography beautifully comes to play," said Kobler.
Sudanese photographer, Al-Sadiq Mohammed worked as a graphic and web designer before beginning his photography career.
His work explores ancient pottery traditions among Sudanese cultures for who the Nile is a life-line.
"My project focuses on pottery. This practice is deep-rooted in Sudanese traditions among communities living around the Nile. It is linked to the civilisations of the Nile such as the Karma and other old Nubian civilisations," Mohammed explained.
Ethiopian photographer, Brook Mengistu looked at the Nile from a different point of view, profiling deeply religious civilizations that sprung up around the Nile. Ethiopia has one of the oldest Christian civilisations dating back to the fourth century.
"I have followed different students of the Bible as they learn, as they go about their day and as they learn the secrets of the Bible and for them to learn the Bible, they have to be humble and humility is of course the key to reach spiritual elevation," he said.
The River Tales exhibition provides a window into the Nile's rich cultural and social history through the work of artists who display a passion and love for the region's people.