Shock wave: “a repercussion from a startling event or upheaval”. Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2016.

A collection of images taken during my travels in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe during a period of significant change in my life—a turning point if you will—where the boldness of aspiration was juxtaposed with the vulnerability of daily human existence.

Bo Kaap is a lively, multiculturalist Township located in Cape Town, South Africa.  

Haverhill, Massachusetts 

Haverhill, MA

The Animal Kingdom

In a quaint village on the outskirts of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe I was greeted by the warm grin of a man who called himself “Impezi.”  He wore a ragged yellow t-shirt, too-long jeans that had accumulated dirt stains at the frayed edges and brown sandals that partially exposed his toes.  To my surprise, Impezi was the chief of the village.

He explained that one could choose their own names. In his native tongue, the word “Impezi” means Hyena. He clarified that he could have chosen a noble animal like a lion or tiger that represents strength and power. Instead, he chose the Hyena with a negative reputation as a “bottom feeder.”  Not only is the Hyena a scavenger that steals the food of others, in my opinion, its patchy, untamed fur is definitely not appealing to the eyes.  Impezi saw my puzzled face.  He regarded me as if he knew what I was thinking. 

“Hyena’s are healers,” he said.  They have the unique ability to withstand poisons that exist within animal carcasses, which in turn, protects other animals from eating contaminated meat that would result in certain death. 

“And that’s what I do as chief” Impezi continued,“…my job as chief is to suck the poison out of my community, but at the same time, I must not forget that it was the people who put me here.  We are all equal; we are all one.” 

When people of the village argue, he acts as a judge; when people of the village need food, he acts as a farmer; when people of the village need inspiration, he acts as a spiritual leader.  Impezi holds the entire weight of the community on his shoulders and he does so humbled, without supremacy.