The Asian’s of East Africa, as they are commonly referred to are people of South Asian background that settled in Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kenya and Uganda over the last few centuries.
These Asian’s came in various waves and eventually formed the economic back bone of the region. Today there are relatively few around, and this is their story.
This is a long term project documenting their stories, in the hope of discovering my own place in this diverse community.
Read MoreAfrica has been the last hit covid19 continent, and like the rest of the world, each country has taken a difference stance in tackling the issue. Others have followed the Indian approach of full Lockdown, some have spread awareness and encouraged face masks, whilst some have decided to let God do his work. What is clear is the lack of understanding, the lack of clarify in fighting and handling the disease and therefore confused messages for everyday Africans who will likely be the hardest hit.
Read MoreI went to check out the street food seller that have now crammed onto Coco Beach like never before to get their views. Literally, there is no room to walk onto the beach without squiggling through the food banda’s anymore. When I was growing up, there were no permanent banda’s and sellers usually walked from car to car selling their snacks.
Read MoreStreet photography is one of my favorite subjects to shoot. I must admit, I find it very difficult and sometimes impossible to practise in Dar Es Salam as I find people get very offended. Anyway, I got to spend a couple of weeks in London, one of my favorite cities ever, and here are some of the images shot on the Fuji XT2 with the 35mm f/2. Oh, and mostly shot using one hand, whilst the other one pushed a stroller!
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Iran has been on my travel list for quite some time. It’s not the Arab Middle East most of us know about, but rather a country that is more of a secret gem to both the sight and knowledge of a traveler. It’s a country of vast contradictions, a country filled with the super modern youth, co-existing with extreme versions of Islam. It’s difficult to explain, but I have probably never felt like I did being in Iran anywhere else in the world. Every aspect, from its friendly people, the Farsi language, the fact that you must cover your head, the hundreds of posters commemorating martyrs, the cuisine, sanctions and sanction busting, the bazaars, and the general ambiance has been captivating. I hope some of my pictures will convince those skeptical about visiting this very interesting country!
I've been visiting Stone Town ever since I was a child. Both my parents ancestors first landed in Zanzibar; and although most of them have migrated out of the island, I will always have a special connection with this island.
Read MoreHamisi came to Dar Es Salaam in 2000 after he failed his 7th grade exam at a school in Mtwara (his home town). He came to the city and started working with his brother selling fish at their stall in the Msasani Fish Market. Soon he learnt to differentiate between fish that were in demand, those that were fresh, dynamited, and how to haggle during the auctions held by the fishermen. He then developed relationships with customers through his stall and eventually started delivering directly to their homes.
Read MoreI’ve been approached several times by people who are setting their foot into photography; those who want to polish their skills; and those who just need to take decent shots of their everyday lives. Most of the time, questions revolve around what camera I use, which lenses they should get and other technical questions. So today, I’m writing to all of those people with some not so technical advise, but what worked for me!
Read MoreMost visitors to Mauritius will skip Port Louis and hang out at the beaches. I don't blame them, but when I travel to a place, I want to dig deeper and understand the back story, the history and the presence of a place. And so, camera in one hand (Fuji X100T), my kids, hubby, and all the other baggage that comes with us, I began exploring the not to common streets and corners of the island.
Read MoreMuchacho's Restaurant has been around since 1986! It was started by Mr Saidi (of Arab descent) in the Kariakoo' neighborhood of Dar Es Salaam. Despite it's humble facilitates, the place attracted foodies from all over the the city, cutting all social classes. The concept of driveways is very new to Tanzania, and what made Muchachos pretty cool, was you could eat in your car! Let's face it, we all want to do that, especially on on days when you're not in the mood to socialize.
Read MoreI've traveled a good handful of African cities. As usual, I've got hungry on the way somewhere and over the years realized that there is probably no other city that rocks street food like Dar Es Salaam. As a child I being i super exciting to spend my pocket money buying sliced mangoes with chilly, bbq corn, tope tope (mabungo), fried cassava, milky pink homemade icecreams (which no longer exist), gubbit (caramel like sticky sweet), fried peanuts ... and the list is never ending.
But this post isn't about all those foods. It's about my favorite of the street foods - SUMNI SUMNI = Tiny pieces of beef meat and fat, skewered into old cycle rods, marinated in garlic, ginger, lemon and grilled in the most hygienically questionable circumstances and charcoal grilled on pedestrian popular streets of Dar Es Salaam.
Read MoreSome test shots on my dream camera the Fuji XT-2
Read MoreI photographed this couple's wedding around five years ago and was thrilled to know they were expecting an addition to their family. This was a mini shoot on the beach . . .
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