THE SHANGRI-LA OF TOFATAT: The next thing Aubine and I did was to climb high into the boulders, through indescribably twisted passageways where we repeatedly had to help one another. At the summit of Tofatat we discovered a natural marvel whose existence still baffles me to this day: there was a small limpid pond surrounded by an earthen sward where a few flowering acacias and tender shoots of grass grew. Read more…
THE TAO OF TOFATAT: From far away I spotted our destination, dominating a valley encircled at a respectful distance by small hills — Tofatat was a rocky desert queen on her sandy dais. Our footsteps quickened, keeping time with our racing heartbeats. La Nuit sensed our new fervor and barked incessantly. As we got nearer, no one spoke; even our Labradors seemed entranced. Arriving at its base, we just looked up in amazement, and understood why Ahoudan had been so proud to bring us here. Read more…
MY FATHER, THE VISIONARY: In this photo, my father, Michael Kirtley, is dressed as a Touareg, and sits contemplating the vast Sahara, and beyond. To me, this photo is symbolic of his essence. He is a visionary. When he looks in front of him, his vision is not limited to what lies ahead. He sees beyond, to the infinite possibilities that the world offers, which he envisions with boundless wisdom. Read more…
THE FAMILY PORTRAIT: In this photo, you can see Alhassan with his wife, Sadouan, and their children. Mouheini, who you might remember from another photo, is their eldest child. She was not present when this photo was taken, given that she was in her husband’s camp tending to her own children.
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THE BEST FATHERS IN THE WORLD: The BaAka pygmies of the Congo and Central African Republic have been coined the best fathers in the world. As I’ve mentioned before in my breastfeeding series, they are known for offering their nipple to suckle when mothers are away hunting and gathering. Read more…
THE ARTIST: Aghali , aged four, belongs to a reknown family of Inadan, the Touareg artisan cast. The man, the Inadan, makes tools, crafts intricate jewelry from metal, makes camel saddles, sharpens stone… the list goes on. The women artisans, the Tchinadan, are leatherwork specialists. They craft bags, pouches, and various decorations from beautifully dyed leather. The artisan tradition is inherited from father to son, mother to daughter, and Inadans almost always exclusively marry amongst themselves. Read more…