African Portrait Series - Women

Portraits from my time as a photojournalist in the Central African village of Bayanga. The strength and character of these people, specifically the women, was always impressive.

Woman stands in the doorway of her Kitchen. Always a separate building from the house, the kitchen is very much a woman's domain. Job's are very gender specific, with women getting the bulk of the work.

A grandmother, or ata, outside of her home in Bayanga. The average life span in The Central African Republic is 40. Seeing an older person than that is a rare occurrence.

A bai aka woman holds an onion seedling while waiting international food aid distribution. She had no idea what her bandana said. A large amount of clothing comes from international donations.

Market women going home after a day of selling their produce. Only women are permitted to sell in the market.

Market women sell small cut piles of duiker, a small antelope.

Umbertine, a matriarch of the market in Bayanga. She has a preferential selling spot due to her seniority and clout.

A woman makes gozo, which is the most common staple food. It is low in nutritional value but makes a good filler.

Carrying things on your head keeps the hands free for other tasks. It's not uncommon for women to carry 40lb containers of water on their head. Often this is done with a baby strapped to the back.

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