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Quiet pride - the forgotten country

Photographer

Philipp Schmieja

Category

People Photography - Culture

Company

Submission Group

Amateur

Year

2026

Country / Region

Germany

Dignity does not shout. Covered in charcoal and earth he stands for a symbol of beauty and strength. Even when the outside world forgets, the charcoal on his body shields him and forms his identity remembering who he is - a Krongo Nuba warrior. His presence speaks of pride.

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. After more than 60 years of total isolation, the silence around the Nuba begins to break.

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