- Africa Celebration : Ethiopia, Face to Faith - Ode 6/8
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In January, in Addis Ababa, millions of Orthodox Christians got together to commemorate the baptism of Christ. This celebration, the Timkat, which corresponds to the Epiphany, generally takes place around the 19th of January. Although this religious festival is celebrated by Christians all over the world, it has a special significance in Ethiopia, where it is the most important and most picturesque event of the year.
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For only one day, I had the chance to attend the festivities … A new smirk intrudes on my face. Arriving at the gates of Jan Meda, an immense park on the outskirts of the city, it is an explosion of sensations: Prayers and songs emanate from the four corners of the procession, Boswellia incense slowly diffuse, embalming the pilgrims who converge to the entrance. I sneak through this human labyrinth and manage to penetrate the sacred enclosure. A priest, all dressed in black, blesses the faithful who bow in front him with his heavy cross.
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I live this day intensely and take advantage of all that it offers me to see, feel, experience. I realize that Faith can be beautiful, unifying and open. Values that I could no longer associate with religion. I feel fulfilled with gratitude and thank God – no matter what is his name, no matter what is his representation – for having given me such a beautiful day on the land of the cradle of humanity.
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You can check the full story on my website here: http://yannmacherez.com/?gallery=one-day-in-addis-abeba
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#Ethiopia #africa #Timkat #AddisAbeba #tradition #faith #love #consciousness #culture #PeopleDaily #everydayafrica #streetphotography #meeting #portraits #portraitphotography #photojournalism #documentaryphotography #storytelling #documentaries #humanity #hlafrica #lonelyplanet #humanity #everydayeverywherephoto #documentinglife #inspiration ... See MoreSee Less
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- Africa Celebration : Namibia, Unspoiled freedom - Ode 5/8
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Namibia is that kind of place: You can’t relate it to another country! There is no another place like this on Earth.It’s a country of compelling beauty, abundant sunshine, and a feeling of confined space. With its unspoiled landscapes and large variety of game, Namibia is one of the larger countries in Africa and draws an increasing number of visitors from various part so the globe.
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Before going there, i had some ideas/image of what it could be. I saw so many pictures of it! But being there, in the middle of the Namib desert, by yourself, is an experience by itself.A sense of freedom is generated by the wide horizons, the clear unpollutted skies and a population density which is among the lowest in the world. This feeling of tranquility and stillness combines with a landscape which is singular in its colors, full of contrasts of light an shade. In addition, the diversity of its people creates a rich blend of cultures and traditions.
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Namibia is the first country in the world to include protection of the environment and sustainable utilization of wildlife in its constitution. About 15.5% of the country has been set aside as national parks. In these areas, rare and endangered species of animals, birds and plant life are preserved and protected. They serve as a living reminder to us all, and to the generations of the future, of how it once was in Africa.
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#Namibia #SouthernAfrica #Desert #Namib #Namibdesert #sand #dunes #africa #Love #consciousness #culture #peopledaily #everydayafrica #streetphotography #meeting #portraits #portraitphotography #photojournalism #documentaryphotography #storytelling #documentaries #humanity #HLafrica #lonelyplanet #humanity #everydayeverywherephoto #documentinglife #inspiration ... See MoreSee Less
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- Africa Celebration :Zanzibar is calling - Ode 4/8
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‘The world is very big and full of magnificent places which it would take more than a thousand lives to visit – Escape – Find better a little further – Zanzibar is calling’.
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Lying off Tanzania’s coast, the Zanzibar Archipelago consists of more than 50 islands, most of which have a long history and a rich cultural mix. The best-known island here is Zanzibar (or ‘Unguja Island’, as it is more properly known). Known as the Spice Island, the beautiful island of Zanzibar on Africa’s east coast is bursting with culture and history, seemingly at odds with its idyllic geography of white-sand beaches with palms swaying lazily in the sea breeze. Together this makes Zanzibar a fabulous place to explore as well as a dream to relax and unwind.
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Zanzibar is a destination which brought adventurers, seafarers, and traders from far and wide. Stone Town, a World Heritage Site, boasts a labyrinth of winding alleys, bustling marketplaces, beautifully carved wooden doors, breathtaking mosques and grand Arab residences. The scents of cinnamon and clove, emanating from the spice stalls, add a note of lightness to this dense atmosphere. Walking through these arteries is comparable to being wrapped in a muffled and melancholic murmur.
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I could close my eyes and feel like I am back on the island of my childhood, Reunion Island. Visually though, it is very different.
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@destinationzanzibar @zanzibarguide #tanzania #zanzibar #stonetown #africa #Love #consciousness #culture #peopledaily #everydayafrica #streetphotography #meeting #portraits #portraitphotography #photojournalism #documentaryphotography #storytelling #documentaries #humanity #hlafrica #lonelyplanet #humanity #everydayeverywherephoto #documentinglife #inspiration ... See MoreSee Less
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- Africa Celebration : Congo, Behind the Myth - Ode 3/8
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As Anthony Bourdain said in 2013: "The Congo was the most difficult shoot of my life but was also maybe the greatest adventure of my life. ». This is the way I feel anytime I come back from this unique land.
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The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) always sounds like a myth to me. A place where there is still so much to discover. This country is 4 times bigger than France and abound in culture and ressources. I had the opportunity to travel around the Lualaba province, covering Governor Muyej’s political journey, documenting several celebration of the Bayeke dynasty of Garengaze -like the commemoration of the death of King M’siri I- , discovering the whole mine region of Kolwezi…It was a year ago and those sensations, the smell of soil, the craze of the crowd…it still all alive inside me.
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Thanks to @hamaji_magazine and the two great souls, Marie-Aude and Olivier Delafoy, that trust me and gave me the opportunity to cover those amazing stories and be part of their own journey, in DRC. I can easily said that it was one of the most intense and unforgettable experience. A touch of madness…that I deeply miss!
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Congo, a nation that changes you forever!
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#Congo #DRC #king #tribe #dance #katanga #africa #Love #consciousness #culture #peopledaily #everydayafrica #streetphotography #meeting #portraits #portraitphotography #photojournalism #documentaryphotography #storytelling #documentaries #humanity #hlafrica #lonelyplanet #humanity #everydayeverywherephoto #documentinglife #inspiration @hamaji_magazine ... See MoreSee Less
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