The preparation and communal drinking of tea is a social ritual in Niger in western Africa. This teapot belongs to a Fulɓe herdsman and originated in Czechoslovakia. The decorations were added by a Tuareg silversmith and the tea is imported from China. ■ Photo: Florian Köhler, Ganatcha, Niger, 2011 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
A young Akha woman catches fish in a river in south-western Yunnan province, China. She is 18 and has a one-year-old son. She loves dancing, but since her marriage she is no longer able to pursue this hobby so often. ■ Photo: Ruijing Wang, Menglian, China, 2012 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Adapting to the resource scarcity of the northern Sahel region, the Woɗaaɓe of Niger – who even today are still mostly highly mobile cattle-herding pastoralists – spend most of the year living in small and widely scattered groups. The large annual clan gatherings are an occasion for dance competitions as well as reinforcing social relationships and renewing friendships. ■ Photo: Florian Köhler, Abdenaser, Damergou region, Niger, 2011 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Only a few kilometres outside the capital of Karakalpakistan, along the “salt flats” just past the airport is a racetrack. In past decades, festivals such as Navruz, the New Year, were celebrated here and horse races and tournaments were held. Today the site is used mainly for driving practice and the buildings are falling into ruin. ■ Photo: Margarethe Waldt, Nukus, Karakalpakistan, 2016 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
During a state parade in Viengxay young women wear traditional Laotian wrap skirts with elaborate embroidery that displays their individual artistic taste and emphasizes their ethnic identity. Expressions of ethnic difference in Laos are largely limited to textile art and other traditional crafts. ■ Photo: Oliver Tappe, Viengxay, Laos, 2010 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The traditional everyday costume of the Flower Hmong women in the north-western Highlands of Vietnam includes a colourful blouse decorated with embroidered ribbons and beaded fringes. In the past these garments were decorated by hand for personal use – a process requiring months of work. Today it is also possible to purchase mass-produced items manufactured in China. ■ Photo: Kirsten Endres, Provinz Lao Cai, Vietnam, 2010 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Currently located in a fishing boat, this compass was previously used in sail boats called vāhan in the Gujarāti language. Such boats were employed in local and medium distance coastal trade along the shores of Western India until 2011. ■ Photo: Varsha Patel, Port village of Goghā, Gulf of Khambhat, Gujarāt, India, 2015 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
In Ghana many people face the challenge of trying to make optimal use of scant money and resources. Here in the capital Accra, a business centre has been erected using various scraps of building material. Such venues offer not only everyday goods and services, they are also used to advertise events or express the convictions of the shopkeeper. ■ Photo: Jacqueline Knörr, Accra, Ghana, 2011 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Mr. Manh doesn’t require much space or equipment for his work as a barber. Most of the time all he needs is the electric clipper to give his clients a new haircut. After all, he isn’t a hair stylist, just a simple street barber – his “salon” is located on the outer wall of a large market building. ■ Kirsten Endres, Lao Cai City, Vietnam, 2012 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The Buduma, who inhabit the coastal region and the islands of Lake Chad, are pastoralists, maize farmers, and fishers. Depending on how high the water level is, the herders sometimes have to swim with their cattle to pasture on one of the islands. ■ Photo: Florian Köhler, Lake Chad near Bosso, 2011 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Turkana nomads are masters at finding subsistence in a harsh natural environment, but a century of modernization policies and the population explosion have driven the majority of them to adopt a settled lifestyle in which they must rely on state funds. They have schools, practice Christian religion, and raise poultry to supplement their diet. This proud rooster was given the honour of being sacrificed for the celebration of a newly-adopted festival, Christmas. ■ Photo: Immo Eulenberger, Kenya, 2013 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
These buckets aren’t part of an art object, but rather fire extinguishing equipment at the entrance of an expensive safari camp in northern Kenya. Filled with sand, they require no maintenance or replenishment. Evidently only small fires are anticipated. ■ Harald Müller-Dempf, Lokochokio, Kenia, 2006 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The preparation and communal drinking of tea is a social ritual in Niger in western Africa. This teapot belongs to a Fulɓe herdsman and originated in Czechoslovakia. The decorations were added by a Tuareg silversmith and the tea is imported from China. ■ Photo: Florian Köhler, Ganatcha, Niger, 2011 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
A young Akha woman catches fish in a river in south-western Yunnan province, China. She is 18 and has a one-year-old son. She loves dancing, but since her marriage she is no longer able to pursue this hobby so often. ■ Photo: Ruijing Wang, Menglian, China, 2012 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
A pirogue being used to transport another pirogue. These flat boats are the only suitable means for travel and shipment of goods in the inaccessible island landscape of Nigerien Lake Chad. ■ Photo: Florian Köhler, Lake Chad near Bosso, Niger, 2011 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Adapting to the resource scarcity of the northern Sahel region, the Woɗaaɓe of Niger – who even today are still mostly highly mobile cattle-herding pastoralists – spend most of the year living in small and widely scattered groups. The large annual clan gatherings are an occasion for dance competitions as well as reinforcing social relationships and renewing friendships. ■ Photo: Florian Köhler, Abdenaser, Damergou region, Niger, 2011 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Only a few kilometres outside the capital of Karakalpakistan, along the “salt flats” just past the airport is a racetrack. In past decades, festivals such as Navruz, the New Year, were celebrated here and horse races and tournaments were held. Today the site is used mainly for driving practice and the buildings are falling into ruin. ■ Photo: Margarethe Waldt, Nukus, Karakalpakistan, 2016 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
During a state parade in Viengxay young women wear traditional Laotian wrap skirts with elaborate embroidery that displays their individual artistic taste and emphasizes their ethnic identity. Expressions of ethnic difference in Laos are largely limited to textile art and other traditional crafts. ■ Photo: Oliver Tappe, Viengxay, Laos, 2010 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The traditional everyday costume of the Flower Hmong women in the north-western Highlands of Vietnam includes a colourful blouse decorated with embroidered ribbons and beaded fringes. In the past these garments were decorated by hand for personal use – a process requiring months of work. Today it is also possible to purchase mass-produced items manufactured in China. ■ Photo: Kirsten Endres, Provinz Lao Cai, Vietnam, 2010 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
A woman decorates a traditional bamboo parasol in Pathein, Myanmar. The city is famous throughout the country for its parasols, which have been produced here by hand for generations. ■ Foto: Laura Hornig, Pathein, Myanmar, 2016 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Currently located in a fishing boat, this compass was previously used in sail boats called vāhan in the Gujarāti language. Such boats were employed in local and medium distance coastal trade along the shores of Western India until 2011. ■ Photo: Varsha Patel, Port village of Goghā, Gulf of Khambhat, Gujarāt, India, 2015 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Women carry firewood, a resource that is difficult to obtain in the Pamir Mountains. People have to walk long distances in order to gather a small bundle of wood or dung for heating. ■ Photo: Małgorzata Biczyk, Badakhshan province, Afghanistan, 2011 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
In Ghana many people face the challenge of trying to make optimal use of scant money and resources. Here in the capital Accra, a business centre has been erected using various scraps of building material. Such venues offer not only everyday goods and services, they are also used to advertise events or express the convictions of the shopkeeper. ■ Photo: Jacqueline Knörr, Accra, Ghana, 2011 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The region Dzūkija is known for its mushroom-rich forests. These sweet mushrooms are a culinary specialty prepared by a woman from the region. ■ Photo: Lina Pranaitytė-Wergin, Dzūkija region, Lithuania, 2008 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Mr. Manh doesn’t require much space or equipment for his work as a barber. Most of the time all he needs is the electric clipper to give his clients a new haircut. After all, he isn’t a hair stylist, just a simple street barber – his “salon” is located on the outer wall of a large market building. ■ Kirsten Endres, Lao Cai City, Vietnam, 2012 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The Buduma, who inhabit the coastal region and the islands of Lake Chad, are pastoralists, maize farmers, and fishers. Depending on how high the water level is, the herders sometimes have to swim with their cattle to pasture on one of the islands. ■ Photo: Florian Köhler, Lake Chad near Bosso, 2011 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Lunch break with a friend. Every workshop in the coal-preparation plant has its own resident animal. Murr has called this boiler room home for 14 years. ■ Eeva Kesküla, Karaganda Oblast, Kazakhstan, 2013 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Turkana nomads are masters at finding subsistence in a harsh natural environment, but a century of modernization policies and the population explosion have driven the majority of them to adopt a settled lifestyle in which they must rely on state funds. They have schools, practice Christian religion, and raise poultry to supplement their diet. This proud rooster was given the honour of being sacrificed for the celebration of a newly-adopted festival, Christmas. ■ Photo: Immo Eulenberger, Kenya, 2013 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Empty rows of seats in the state hippodrome in Dushanbe after the central Navruz festivities. Navruz is the Persian New Year celebrated on 21 March. ■ Photo: Małgorzata Biczyk, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 2011 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
These buckets aren’t part of an art object, but rather fire extinguishing equipment at the entrance of an expensive safari camp in northern Kenya. Filled with sand, they require no maintenance or replenishment. Evidently only small fires are anticipated. ■ Harald Müller-Dempf, Lokochokio, Kenia, 2006 ■ © Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology