Christian Bobst Photography

) Pictures of the Story "The Disciples og the Greater Jihad" were awarded as a Winner at the PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris 2019 in the Category State of the Word. The true Jihad is not war by force of arms, but the fight against the inner demons. This is what the Senegalese Sufi-Cheikh Amadou Bamba Mbacke (1853 - 1928) taught his numerous followers during the french colonial occupation. Most Senegalese commit themselves to Sufism and they are still fervent supporters of this doctrin. This photo story captures various aspects and examples that show how the Sufi Brotherhoods, with their liberal and tolerant interpretation of the Koran, unite Senegal's heterogeneous society and rely on cohesion rather than division to maintain their power and influence.

A Series of 10 images of the Story "The Twice Refugees of Shatila" was also awarded with a Gold medal at the Tokyo International Photo Awards 2018 in the Category "Editorial", as well as with a 2nd Prize at the IPA International Photography Awards in New York in the Category "Press/Political". "The Twice Refugees from Shatila" Shatila is a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Beirut, It was established for a number of about 3000 people after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War to accommodate the Palestinian refugees who fled or were expelled during the 1948 Palestinian exodus. In Lebanon there are 12 Palestinian refugee camps with around 500,000 registered refugees. Lebanon´s neighboring country Syria once gave shelter to another 560,000 Palestinian refugees in 13 camps. Since the the Syrian civil war started more than 110,000 Syrian-born Palestinians have fled Syria, becoming so called "twice refugees". As a consequence, the numbers of refugees In Shatila went up from 10,000 in 2014 to an estimate of 22,000 to 24,000 people, who are now squeezed together on approximately one square kilometer. Although the refugees from Syria are Palestinians they are very unpopular among the former Palastinian refugees in the camp. Therefore they are often discriminated and their children frequently bullied. Shatila bursts at the seams, a dark, cramped concrete labyrinth with high criminality rates, and the twice refugees from Syria all share one hope only: to be able to leave this prison and fly to another country as soon as possible.

10 Pictures of the Story "Roma in Kosovo were Awarded with a SilverMedal in the category Editorial/Photo Essay at the Tokyo International Photo Awarda 2018. In Kosovo the Roma are a stigmatized ethnic minority, just like in many countries in the Balkan. Kosovo is one of the poorest countries in Europe. Conditions for the Roma communities in Kosovo are desolate. They are living in houses without electricity and running water. There are virtually no permanent jobs for Roma people. Most of them try to make a living on collecting and separating waste. As a consequence many suffer from chronic illnesses. The money they earn is hardly enough to buy food. The average life expectancy of Roma people in Kosovo is around 45 years.

% Pictures of the Story "The Twice Refugees from Shatila" were awarded with a Silver medal at the PX3 Prix de la photographie paris 2017 in the category "Political" Shatila is a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Beirut, It was established for a number of about 3000 people after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War to accommodate the Palestinian refugees who fled or were expelled during the 1948 Palestinian exodus. In Lebanon there are 12 Palestinian refugee camps with around 500,000 registered refugees. Lebanon´s neighboring country Syria once gave shelter to another 560,000 Palestinian refugees in 13 camps. Since the the Syrian civil war started more than 110,000 Syrian-born Palestinians have fled Syria, becoming so called "twice refugees". As a consequence, the numbers of refugees In Shatila went up from 10,000 in 2014 to an estimate of 22,000 to 24,000 people, who are now squeezed together on approximately one square kilometer. Although the refugees from Syria are Palestinians they are very unpopular among the former Palastinian refugees in the camp. Therefore they are often discriminated and their children frequently bullied. Shatila bursts at the seams, a dark, cramped concrete labyrinth with high criminality rates, and the twice refugees from Syria all share one hope only: to be able to leave this prison and fly to another country as soon as possible.

Art Directors Club Switzerland, Silver Category Photography & Illustration Publication NZZ "Ein Kämpfer wie ein Fels"

NPPA (US National Press Photographers Association) " "Best of visual journalism", "nd prize Sport Picture Stories THE ROCK OF NGOR

SELECTION "Swiss Photo Award" 2016, 1st prize "Reportage" DER FELS VON NGOR Ringen, auf Französisch „la lutte“genannt, ist in Senegal die weitaus populärste Sportart. Tausende junger Männer üben sich im Ringkampf und träumen von einer Wrestling-Karriere. So auch Djibril Ndir, ein junger Mann aus dem Quartier Ngor in Dakar. Er hat sich den Wrestler-Namen „Kherou Ngor“ gegeben, was so viel wie „Der Fels von Ngor“ heisst. Djibril träumt davon, eines Tages den Titel „Le roi des arènes“ zu holen. Durch den Einstieg großer Sponsoren ist die "Lutte sénégalaise“ nämlich zum Millionen-Business geworden, welches die erfolgreichsten Wrestler zu medialen Superstars und Euro-Millionären macht. Bei der „Lutte sénégalaise“ geht es nicht nur um Muskeln und Millionen, auch Magie spielt eine wichtige Rolle. Ohne die mächtigen Marabouts, wie die Senegalesen ihre Schamanen nennen, geht gar nichts. Die Wrestler geben oft sehr viel Geld aus, um ihre Gegner mit Amuletten, Zaubertränken und Geheimritualen zu übervorteilen. Im westlichen Volksmund werden diese Praktiken oft „Voodoo“ genannt; in Senegal heisst dies „Gris-gris“. Kherou Ngor hat Glück, da einer seiner Onkel ein sehr angesehener Marabout ist. Dessen Söhne unterstützen den Lutteur als schamanistische Helfer, bringen am Familienschrein Opfer, versorgen ihn mit „Gris-gris“-Amuletten und begleiten ihn zu den Kämpfen. Der erste Teil meiner Fotoreportage über die senegalesischen Wrestler entstand bei zwei Reisen im April und August 2015. Im Januar 2016 wurde die Story erstmals im Magazin Stern publiziert, danach in zahlreichen anderen Magazinen und Zeitungen weltweit. Das Bild, auf welchem sich der Wrestler Kherou Ngor im Meer mit Milch übergiesst, erhielt dabei besonders viel Beachtung. Im Juli 2016 reiste ich deshalb wieder nach Senegal, um die Geschichte von Djibril Ndir alias Kherou Ngor zu vertiefen. Daraus entstand die vorliegende Fotoreportage.

World Press Photo Award 2016, 2nd prize "Sport Stories" THE GRIS GRIS WRESTLERS OF SENEGAL Senegalese wrestling is the most popular sport in Senegal, attracting major sponsors and wide media coverage. Wrestlers can become national stars and extremely wealthy, with top prizes reaching hundreds of thousands of euros. The sport is part of a larger West African form of traditional wrestling, but differs in that the Senegalese version allows blows with the hands. It has its historical roots in preparations among warrior classes for battle, and is still seen as an indication of masculine strength and ability. Tournaments involve drumming and dance, and wrestlers practice a range of rituals—such as the presentation of amulets, and rubbing with lotions—to increase their chances and ward off bad luck.

PX3 Prix de la photographie paris 2017, Silver, category "Sport" Wrestling, “la lutte” in French or “lamb” in the Senegalese native language, is by far the most popular sport in Senegal, even more popular than football. Almost everybody, from the toddler up to the grandmother pursues the big wrestle matches either in the stadium, the television or on the street. Senegalese wrestling differs from wrestling matches in western and Asian countries mostly because of mystic rituals. In the western colloquial language theese mystical rituals are often called Voodoo, but the Senegalese call it Gris-gris. The mystical rituals are performed with the presentation of amulets, the use of magic potions, hypnotic drum sounds, songs and dance, all as a firm part of the wrestling show. In the last 10 years, "La Lutte Sénégalaise" has become a million dollar spectacle, mostly because of big telecom sponsors, TV-stations and new media channels. This led to the fact that successful wrestler become media-stars and billionaires.

PDN Photo Annual 2016, Winner Sports Senegalese wrestling, or lutte sénégalaise, is imbued with mystic rituals: the presentation of amulets, the use of magic potions, hypnotic drum sounds, and songs and dance. In the last ten years, it has become a million-dollar spectacle thanks to telecom sponsors and exposure through television and new media. The young men who succeed in the sport become wealthy and famous.

Lens Culture Visual Storytelling Awards 2015, Series Finalist Senegalese wresling is called "la lutte senegalese" in French and "lamb" in the local language Woloff. It's the most popular sport in Senegal—even more popular than soccer. Everyone, from boy or girl to grandmother and grandfather gathers in front of a TV when the big tournaments are taking place in the biggest sports arena in the capital Dakar. Senegalese wrestling is quite similar to wrestling in many other countries, with one remarkable difference: black and white magic play a major role in the fights and the wrestlers pay a fortune for amulets, spells and magic fluids from wizards who are called "Marabouts." The magic amulets are proudly presented by the wrestlers before the fight, and the preparations with the Marabouts are an important part of the show, along with ritual drums, dances and hypnotic chants. In the last few years, Senegalese wrestling drew the attention of big sponsors, mostly telecom companies, and the trophy money increased dramatically. Nowadays the winner of a big tournament can get around three to four hundred thousand Euros for just one fight. Therefore, many young Senegalese are dreaming of a career in wrestling, and over twenty thousand men in Dakar have already registered to fight as professional wrestlers—and this number is growing every day.

SELECTION "Swiss Photo Award" 2014, 42nd prize "Editorial" SOLE MOTHERS OF KATUTURA Im Rahmen eines Langzeitprojekts portraitierte ich 2013 im namibischen Township Katutura alleinerziehende Frauen, welche ihren Körper verkaufen müssen, um sich und ihre Kinder zu versorgen. Es handelt sich nicht um Einzelfälle. In Namibia haben über 50% der Frauen unter zwanzig Jahren bereits ein Kind und über 50% der Kinder wachsen ohne Vater auf. Viele Mütter müssen daher alleine für den Unterhalt der Kinder aufkommen. Die offizielle Arbeitslosenrate im Land liegt bei 33%, in Wirklichkeit dürfte sie aber über 50% betragen. Für alleinerziehende Frauen ist es deshalb enorm schwierig, eine Arbeit zu finden. Oft sind sexuelle Dienste die einzige Möglichkeit, um etwas Geld für das Nötigste zu verdienen. Die Grenzen zur Prostitution sind dabei fliessend. Die Dienste werden meist im privaten Rahmen oder in Bars und Diskotheken angeboten. Prostitution ist in Namibia illegal. Frauen, die sich verkaufen, können von der Polizei kaum Schutz erwarten. Oft wird ihnen von den Freiern die Bezahlung verweigert, manche werden ausgeraubt, vergewaltigt oder umgebracht. Für die Täter hat dies selten Konsequenzen. Namibia ist eines der Länder mit der höchsten HIV-Rate der Welt, fast 20% der Bevölkerung ist mit dem Aids-Virus infiziert. Für die Armen, die sich Medikamente nicht leisten können, ist das Virus weiterhin tödlich. So bleiben viele Kinder ohne Mütter zurück und verkaufen sich teilweise schon sehr jung, um sich und ihre Geschwister zu ernähren. Weil Kondome bei den Männern unpopulär sind, bekommen viele dieser Mädchen von ihren Freiern wieder Kinder und stecken sich gleichzeitig mit dem HI-Virus und anderen Geschlechtskrankheiten an. Krank, schwach und als Prostituierte gebrandmarkt werden diese Mädchen und Frauen von der Gesellschaft stigmatisiert. Auch von der Kirche und vom Staat gibt es kaum Unterstützung. Es schliesst sich ein Teufelskreis, aus dem es selten ein Entrinnen gibt.

PX3 Prix de la photographie 2015, 2nd prize, category professional "White" L`OR BLANC DU LAC ROSE It is hard work, much too hard. If I could, I would stop tomorrow, but I have a family to feed, says Mame Thierno Fael, one of many salt miners on Lake Retba in Senegal. The small lake is 30 kilometers outside of Dakar. Due to its peculiar color, it is also called Lac Rose. It is so strongly saturated with salt that the mineral sinks to the bottom of the lake. Anyone has the right to harvest this salt because this lake is common property. In order not to upset the delicate ecological balance, this salt has to be obtained by hand. The salt minors work with spades, baskets and boats to obtain the precious mineral from the water. They work 6 to 8 hours daily to fill one boat, which earns them the rough equivalent of 30 USD. Once the salt loaded boats have landed, the freight gets carried up the shore in plastic buckets. The salt is then piled up to form small mountains. This hard manual work at a lake with a salt-saturation of about 40% threatens the workers health. Salt attacks their skin, it dehydrates the body and dessicates the mucuous membrane. It is the intermediate trade that gains substantially from the gaining of the precious salt from the lake: the best quality is sold to gourmets in the wide world at 36 USD per kilo.

SELECTION "Swiss Photo Award" 2013, Shortlist "Reportage" DER VATER DER STRASSENMÄDCHEN VON KATUTURA “Wenn alleinstehende Frauen in den Townships keine Arbeit haben und kein Geld mehr da ist, wird Sex zur einzig verfügbaren Währung. Damit bezahlen sie das Nötigste wie Essen, Kleidung und die Schule für die Kinder.” Dies berichtet Father Hermann Klein-Hitpass, ein deutscher Pfarrer der in der namibischen Hauptstadt Windhoek lebt. Seit 20 Jahren kümmert sich der 74-Jährige im Township Katutura um Frauen und Mädchen, die ihren Körper verkaufen, um sich, ihre Kinder und manchmal auch Geschwister über die Runden zu bringen. Weil Prostitution in Namibia illegal ist, haben diese Frauen kaum Schutz und Rechte. Sie sind gesellschaftlich geächtet, werden von den Freiern als „Toiletten“ verspottet und oft um ihr Geld betrogen. Raub und Vergewaltigungen sind Alltag. Die Frauen sagen, ausser Father Hermann helfe ihnen in Windhoek niemand. Der Pfarrer betreibt in Katutura eine Tagesstätte, wo er seit 2005 über 4800 Frauen und Mädchen beraten und mit Essen und Kleidern versorgt hat. 2012 wurde er für sein Engagement mit dem deutschen Bundesverdienstkreuz geehrt. Durch sein Alter und gesundheitliche Probleme geschwächt kann er seiner Arbeit jedoch kaum noch nachkommen. Einen Nachfolger liess sich nicht finden. Auf die Frage, wie es ohne Father Hermann weitergehen wird, brechen viele Frauen in Tränen aus: „Wir verlieren unseren Vater, der Vater, den die meisten von uns nie hatten.“ Die Reportage entstand während 2 Reisen im Jahr 2005 und Ende 2013.

Swiss Press Photo Award 2013, 3rd prize "Foreign countries" EINE REISE DURCH GEORGIEN2 Die Ex-Sowjetrepublik Georgien hofft auf einen Beitritt zur Europäischen Union und auf bessere Beziehungen zum grossen Nachbarn Russland. Der Fotograf, der im Auftrag eines Hilfswerks in Georgien arbeitete, brachte sein persönliches Bild der Armut, der Archaik und Mystik des Landes mit nach Hause.

SELECTION "Swiss Photo Award" 2011, 2nd prize "Editorial" THE END OF OCCUPY WALL STREET In November 2016 it will be 5 years since hundreds of police officers arrested about 200 Occupy Wall Street protesters in an operation to clear the nearly two-month-old camp at Zucotti Park in New York City, the heart of the Occupy Wall Street movement. The raid was carried out early in the morning on November 15, 2011. From Zucotti Park the movement spread out all over the world, but collapsed within a short time after the park was cleared. These pictures were taken one day before and within 5 days after the police raid.

Selection Swiss Photo Award 2011, Shortlist "Advertising" OMAN - BETWEEN TRADITION AND MODERNITY