Celebrated fashion photographer Rankin turned his back on the sumptuousness and glamour to embark on a journey to the refugee camps of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The war-torn country is said to be the world’s deadliest conflict zone since World War II, killing more than 5.4 million people. The conflict is complicated by outside forces and a variety of armed groups fighting both the government and each other.
The photos are of the citizens of DR Congo who had to leave their villages and live in refugee camps in order to save their lives. Most of these people have lost their families due to the war. They are true survivors trying to lead a normal life amidst the inhuman conditions that surround them.
Rakin visited the Mugunga refugee camp with Oxfam and his photographs are now being shown in a exhibition outside the National Theatre in London’s Southbank until December 21, 2008. The exhibition is called Cheka Kidogo, Swahili for “laugh a little.” The photos were taken and posed as a fashion shoot and are very different to the images usually coming out of war zones.
Rankin said his images go “beyond statistics and show the human side of the conflict,” claiming that Western audiences have become “anesthetized to traditional photographs of conflict victims.”
Each photograph has a story, like Antoinette’s, one of the photographed refugees. She said of the conflict, ”my husband was a businessman. He is dead. One night those men entered the village. They were assaulting us, shooting people, and setting fire to our homes. My husband was shot. I found his body on the street. I didn’t attempt to bury him. I couldn’t. I had to run. I want my message to be heard. I want an end to this war.”
Tumani (Hope), 38. Tailor
“This sewing machine is all I could take with me. It was heavy, difficult to carry, but I couldn’t leave it behind. This sewing machine feeds my eight children and me. If someone were to take this from me, they would be taking my life.”
Seraphine, 42. Entrepreneur
“I came from Rutshuru in Katwiguru. My own husband was killed in front of my eyes. There is still no peace in Rutshuru. Laurent Nkunda (leader of CNDP) is still oppressing us. We lived with the Interahamwe and there was no problem with them. But when Laurent Nkunda came, we started suffering a lot. He shot many people. Many people.
“Please help us get rid of those enemies so that we can go back to home. That is what we want. If you help us with this, really, we can finally heal.”
Antoinette, 70. Wife and Granny
“ My husband was a businessman. He is dead. One night those men entered the village. They were assaulting us, shooting people, and setting fire to our homes. My husband was shot. I found his body on the street. I didn’t attempt to bury him. I couldn’t. I had to run. I want my message to be heard. I want an end to this war.”
Rehema Buera, 52. Restaurant owner
“I lost my husband and four of my children because of this war. After the attack, there were dead bodies everywhere in my village. I found the dead bodies of my husband and my four eldest children – all shot in the head. That day, 175 people from my village were murdered.”
Furaha Vumilia, 65. Basket maker
“It takes two weeks to make a basket – but it only sells for 260 francs (25p). How can you work for two weeks to make 25p? I fled when the war came. People were throwing bombs into our houses. I was living with my son. He and his wife were killed. I fled with my two grandsons. One is 15 and the other 13. They are orphans now.”
Karo Redi, 14 (with baby Happiness)
Banza Masamba, 47. Hairdresser
“There are 24 of us in the camp, living in four small huts. The worst moment in my life is right now. We want peace. That’s all. Peace so that we can go back home. We want you people to talk to the politicians and ask them to stop this war.”
Jasmine, photographer
Jasmine turns her make believe camera on to the photographer.
Educate yourself, get involved. Go to:
IMAGES: RANKIN/OXFAM
By Melissa Alvarado Sierra
The lovely Audrey Hepburn
