Christian Bobst Photography

The dangerous migration route across the Atlantic from Senegal to the Canary Islands, often overshadowed by other migration routes such as the Mediterranean, gained more attention in 2023 and 2024 due to a sharp increase in the number of migrants. This surge was driven by a combination of economic hardship, political instability, and environmental degradation in Senegal. Factors such as overfishing, coastal erosion, and rising sea levels have made traditional livelihoods, particularly fishing, unsustainable, forcing many to seek alternatives abroad. The gendered impacts of these crises are particularly striking. Women in Senegal and other West African nations are disproportionately affected by climate change due to existing social inequalities. As primary caretakers, women bear the brunt of water scarcity, food insecurity, and economic dislocation. Migration, while often male-dominated, increasingly involves women and children, heightening risks of exploitation and trafficking during their perilous journey In 2023, Senegalese migrants began using the Canary Islands route in larger numbers, contributing to a record high of nearly 40,000 arrivals. This was a result of a resurgence of migration after the pandemic and the closure of other migration paths. Despite efforts by Senegal’s navy to intercept migrant boats, thousands of people continued to risk their lives on this perilous journey, which spans up to 1,300 miles of treacherous waters  . This increase also coincided with worsening political turmoil in Senegal, especially protests related to opposition leader Ousmane Sonko in 2023, exacerbating the economic and social challenges for many. These pressures, combined with insufficient domestic opportunities, have fueled the exodus, highlighting the complex and multifaceted nature of migration from Senegal.

In the hamlet of Djirnda, which is located in the Siné Saloum Delta on the Senegalese coast, the women's group "Bol-Boly" is in charge of mangrove replanting and protection. By raising and selling oysters, prawns and other shellfish, the ladies are able to support themselves. They declare, "We are ready to do anything that protects the environment and our dignity." In addition to being essential for the livelihoods of thousands of people living in the delta, intact mangrove trees also help to mitigate the effects of climate change by shielding coastal settlements from erosion, soil salinization, and powerful storm surges. Mangrove forests are invaluable ecosystems that provide a multitude of benefits, from protecting coastlines against storm surges to sequestering carbon dioxide and supporting biodiversity. However, they are increasingly under threat due to human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and pollution. Recognizing the critical importance of mangroves in the fight against climate change and the mitigation of natural disasters, women's groups worldwide are taking action to restore and conserve these vital ecosystems. Across the globe, women's groups are actively engaged in various activities aimed at rehabilitating degraded mangrove areas and protecting existing ones. In countries like Guinea, Kenya, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines Papua New Guinea, Colombia, Mexico and more , women-led initiatives involve planting mangrove saplings, conducting clean-up campaigns, and raising awareness about the importance of mangrove ecosystems among local communities. These grassroots efforts are often driven by women's deep connection to their natural surroundings and their desire to safeguard their homes and livelihoods. As we face the escalating threats of climate change and natural disasters, the importance of mangrove conservation cannot be overstated. Governments, NGOs, and the private sector must recognize and support the invaluable contributions of women's groups in this endeavor, providing them with the resources and recognition they need to continue their vital work. This story was commissioned by HEKS/EPER Switzerland.

The Ferlo Desert, a vast arid region covering some 70,000 square kilometres. Despite its inhospitable conditions, this part of the Sahel is home to a number of nomadic and pastoralist communities, including the Peul, also known as Fulani or Fula. These communities are predominantly nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralists who tend their cattle, goats and sheep, moving across the land according to the grazing patterns of their livestock, and live in several West African countries including Senegal, Guinea, Mali and Nigeria. With a rich history spanning thousands of years, the Peul have honed their ability to adapt to their environment, cultivating a distinct culture, language and traditions. While many pastoralists in the Ferlo Desert still maintain a nomadic lifestyle, others have settled in semi-permanent or permanent communities. At the centre of their lives are small herds of animals, which serve as a lifeline for subsistence, trade and various other purposes. Drought and water scarcity have always been a major challenge for the people of the Ferlo Desert. The community relies primarily on hand-pumped wells, which often struggle to meet the needs of the community. The Senegalese government has built water reservoirs fed by groundwater pumps in recognition of this dire problem. However, the price of water from these reservoirs remains high and unaffordable for many. Today, the impacts of climate change are exacerbating these hardships. Prolonged droughts have made finding suitable grazing land more difficult, while land degradation is further depleting resources and fuelling conflict between different ethnic groups and families. Faced with an ever-changing world, the Peul are being forced to adapt their traditional way of life. Yet they remain resolute, fiercely defending their unique culture and cherished traditions. The deep bond they share with their environment fuels their determination to meet the challenges that lie ahead.

Global warming and its consequences threaten indigenous peoples worldwide. Many of the semi-nomads north of Mount Kenya, such as the Samburu, have suffered very high livestock losses in recent years due to droughts. For this reason, they are breaking with one of their oldest traditions: Instead of relying on their large herds of cows, they now rely on camels, because their milk and meat significantly improve the people's nutritional basis in the increasingly dry climate. Recently, the camel population in the Isiolo region has literally exploded, growing from 100 to 150,000 animals in 20 years. This story was assigned by Biovision. The Biovision Foundation, which headquarters are based in Switzerland, fights poverty and hunger and is committed to the dissemination and application of ecological methods that lead to a sustainable improvement of living conditions in Africa and at the same time protect the environment.

Manshiet Nasser is an area on the outskirts of South Cairo at the foot of Mokattam Mountain. It is home to a slum area often called „the garbage city“. This slum is Cairo‘s main hub for garbage collectors, known as the Zabbaleen, who are mostly Coptic Orthodiox Christians. The Copts are the acient inhabitans of Egypt. Many of them have lived in poverty for generations, because they refused to convert during the Islamic conquest of Egypt. The origin of the Zabbaleen goes back to farmers who began migrating to Cairo from Upper Egypt in the 1940s due to poverty and crop failure. They raised animals such as pigs, chickens and goats, and collected Cairo‘s garbage to feed those animals. But with time, the sorting and recycling of garbage turned out to be more profitable for the Zabbaleen then breeding animals. Today, Manshiyat Naser has developped a complete economy based on recycling garbage. The city is home to more than 260,000 residents, most of them Coptic Christians, but not only. Living conditions in the area which covers about 5.54 square kilometers are poor, it often lacks basic infrastructure such as sewage, electricity and water, and garbage is almost everywhere, not only on the streets, but even on the roofs of the houses. And yet this is a spiritual place.The Christian Orthodox community has built a huge church in a cave in Mokattam Mountain in honor of the great miracle that is said to have occurred here in 979 AD. Through the power of faith, Mount Mokattam was allegedly moved several kilometers by Saint Simon the Tanner in order to save the Christians from extermination by the ruling caliph. The Coptic pastors say that the miracle of the relocated mountain is a parable of the need for humans to constantly adapt, change and transform in oder to improve themsselves and fulfill their purpose in life. They see the recycling of garbage as such an act of faith and transformation, as it improves not only people‘s lives but also their environment. And so faith still moves mountains in Manshiet Nasser today - the mountains of Garbage.

In Senegal, 90 percent of Muslims belong to a Sufi brotherhood, a proportion unmatched by any other Muslim population in the world. While Senegal maintains a secular form of government, Islam plays a multifaceted role in the country, transcending mere religious boundaries to become a lifestyle that permeates almost every aspect of society. Unlike its neighboring countries, Senegal has remained untouched by radicalization and terrorist attacks, establishing itself as an anchor of stability in the West African region since it's independance in 1960. While thousands of young people have few prospects and risk their lives crossing the ocean in fishing boats to find opportunities in Europe, only very few seem to become radicalized. This has a lot to do with the role of the Sufi Brotherhoods. The families of their founders have gained much power and wealth since the French colonial period and have passed on both for generations. There are four main Islamic brotherhoods in Senegal, but two, namely the Tijaniyyah and the Muridiyyah represent over 80%. While saints are taboo in most Islamic countries, the names and portraits of the founding fathers of Sufi brotherhoods and their sons are omnipresent in Senegal. They can be found on murals, on painted buses, as posters in shopping malls, on almost all cabs, and even in the verses of rappers. It is an open secret that the leaders of the great brotherhoods share power in the country, and even the highest politicians seek the blessings and advice of the highest Marabouts in Senegal. This photo essay explores how the Sufi brotherhoods and their religious leaders shape Senegalese society and how they maintain power and wealth, but also peace and stability in the country by relying on a tolerant form of Islam instead of dogmatic rules and oppression.

In Romania, around a quarter of the population lives in deep poverty, another 40% is at risk of pove y. Since Romanians have been allowed to work in other EU countries, some 4-5 million mostly young and well-educated people - one-fifth of the total population - have left the country to seek work in Western Europe. Most send money home regularly, but they do not return. 43% of Romania's total population lives in rural areas, where the standard of living and income, but the cost of living as well, are lower than in urban areas. Entire rural areas are mainly inhabited by elderly people who live off the remittances of their relatives abroad. The situation becomes problematic when the elderly become ill and in need of care. In addition, the Romanian healthcare system and especially medical care in rural areas are extremely fragmented. In Romania, there are around 236 doctors per 100,000 inhabitants, which is one of the lowest rates in the EU. Especially in rural areas, people have hardly any access to functioning and qualitatively sufficient health services. Since the traditional Romanian system in which family members care for their elderly no longer works and the Romanian state is unable to provide the necessary services either, other service providers have to step in. In 2001, the "Diakonia" Christian Foundation of the Protestant Church in Romania began developing a professional and cost-effective home care service in northwestern Romania. The nurses who work at "Diakonia" see their work as a humanitarian service and vocation to people whose needs and suffering are often considered secondary by a society which has to face many other problems at the moment. Most of these well-trained nurses could earn many times more in any Romanian hospital. But they are well aware that their services are more important than ever for the elderly in rural Transylvania, especially in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Year: 2020

In western countries, public transport is generally considered environmentally friendly and positive for air quality and the CO2 footprint. In Nairobi, Kenya's capital, there is no such thing. Tens of thousands of old, scrappy buses pollute the air, clog the roads and bring traffic in the big city to an almost complete standstill every day. One one hand, the Matatus are heavily polluting the air in Nairobi. The World Health Organisation estimates that almost 19,000 people die prematurely in Kenya every year as a result of air pollution, including many children, and a large proportion of these deaths are certainly due to the Matatus, as buses in Kenya are called. On the other hand, the Matatus are much more than just a means of transport, they are also part of the youth culture. Every single Matatu is a rolling work of art in itself. In order to make the old buses more attractive, the owners of the Matatus have the buses pimped not only with artistic graffiti, but also with crazy interiors, potent sound systems, screens on walls and seats, colourful interior lighting. Some Matatus even show off with exclusive DJ mixes. Most bus drivers leave the engines of their buses running all day long. On the one hand because the LED screens and board entertainment systems inside would otherwise drain the vehicle's battery in no time, and on the other hand because the bus drivers want to make people believe that the bus will be leaving shortly, eager to attract more passengers, As a consequence, all over Nairobi, one of the world’s most gridlocked cities, thousands of Matatus idle their engines, sending millions of small harmful, polluting particles into the city’s air. Although the Matatus clog the roads and pollute the air, politicians have difficulty enforcing stricter rules, This is due to the fact that they create hundreds of thousands of jobs, but maybe also because many politicans own Matatus themselves and earn a lot of money from this lucrative business. Year: 2019

Every year thousands of new migrants move to the Namibian capital Windhoek in search of work. The unemployment rate in Namibia is very high and it is particularly difficult for single women to find paid work, especially if they are mothers of small children. "For them, sex is often the only available currency they can exchange for food, shelter or schooling for their children,"says Father Hermann Klein Hitpass, who has made it his personal mission to help prostitutes in Windhoek. In 2005, the German priest had set up a day centre in the township of Katutura outside the city of Windhoek to support women, girls and children who try to survive through sex work with food, clothing and counselling. For 10 years, he has included thousands of women in his Stand Together program and his church co-financed day care center to help them find a way out of poverty-related prostitution. In 2015 Father Hermann became too sick to continue his work and had to be hospitalized. He’s currently still at the Catholic Hospital in Windhoek, dependent on care. The shelter had been closed -and the support of the women and girls was discontinued by the church. On April 24 2018 Father Hermann has passed away. The women he was taking care for are left on their own. Year 2008 - 2018

Wrestling, “la lutte” in French, is by far the most popular sport in Senegal, even more popular than soccer. Almost everybody, from the toddler up to the grandmother pursues the big wrestle matches either in the stadium, on television or on the street. Shaman rituals are performed as a firm part of the wrestling show, even in the big stadiums. In the western colloquial language these rituals are often called Voodoo, but the Senegalese call it Gris-gris. Modern development and acient African traditions come together in this sport. It has its historical roots in preparations among warrior classes for battle, and is still seen as an indication of masculine strength and ability. 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. During 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 has led to the most successful wrestlers becoming media-stars and billionaires, giving young men in this African country a very different perspective. Every morning and evening young men gather at the beaches in Dakar to train themselves in order to become professional wrestlers. Those who succeed gain high social recognition along with prize money in the hundreds of thousands of US dollars for the highest profile fights, but also gain prospect of well-paid jobs in the security industry or as trainers in wrestling schools. Year: 2012 - 2017

“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 at 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 the lake is common property. In order to not disturb the delicate ecological balance, the salt has to be obtained by hand. With spades, baskets and boats the salt mine workers collect the valuable mineral from the water. They work 6 to 8 hours daily to fill one boat, which brings them the rough equivalent of 30 USD. Once the salt loaded boats have landed, women from the neighbouring villages carry the freight up the shore in plastic buckets. The salt is then piled up to form small mountains. The contrast between the the beauty of the scenery and the harsh working conditions for the workers is striking. The work at a lake with a salt-saturation of about 40% threatens the the workers‘ health. The salt attacks their skin, dehydrates their bodies and dessicates the mucuous membrane. It is the intermediate trade that gains substantially from the precious salt from the lake: the best quality is sold to gourmets all over the world at 36 USD per kilo. Year 2012 - 2017

The Simb is a Senegalese tradition also known as "Les Faux Lions" or "The False Lions". The captivating performances of the Simb are deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of Senegal. It's a dance that has its origins in a legend. According to the legend, people who were attacked by a lion became possessed by the spirit of the beast. To exorcise the spirit of the lion, an exorcism ritual was performed in which shamans chanted an incantation that caused convulsive spasms in the possessed and forced them to dance until the spirit of the lion left the victim's body. This dance is called "Simb". Today, the Simb is not only a source of entertainment, but also a means of raising funds for various charitable causes. With its blend of entertainment, folklore, music and dance, the Simb embodies the rich traditions and community spirit of Senegal. During the festivities, the streets come alive as men dressed in intricate lion costumes, meticulously crafted to resemble the majestic big cats, take to the streets with tremendous energy and enthusiasm. As they charge forward, their regal manes flowing, they playfully interact with the spectators, especially the children. The "lions" roam the streets, chasing and catching children and dragging them into an arena made of cloth and sturdy poles. Spectators must purchase tickets to see the performance, as funds raised from ticket sales help support various charitable initiatives and community projects. Those caught by the lions without tickets are doused with cold water from a vat and theatrically beaten until someone takes pity on them and buys a ticket. The performance is accompanied by traditional rhythmic drumming and chanting, which puts the dancers in a trance-like state. The dancers develop breathtaking agility and strength as they perform acrobatic leaps and twisting dance moves. With each leap, spin and somersault, they blur the lines between reality and myth. In addition to its captivating performances, the Simb also serves as a vessel for the preservation and promotion of Senegalese folklore and cultural heritage. The dancers traditionally dress in lion and panther costumes made from pieces of fur, wigs, colourful fabrics and small shells, which are believed to have magical powers. As the Simb dance is based on an ancient shamanistic ritual, there are many elements related to elation and the supernatural, reflecting ancient traditions and beliefs passed down through generations. Many Senegalese saw the tradition of the false lions threatened to disappear a few years ago, but now the spectacle is becoming increasingly popular, especially among young people and children. In recent years, the Simb has gained international recognition, attracting tourists and cultural enthusiasts eager to immerse themselves in the vibrancy and authenticity of Senegal. The Simb is a testament to the power of tradition to unite people and transcend boundaries.

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, with one of the highest unemployment rates on the continent. Conditions for the Roma communities in Kosovo are desolate. Extreme poverty and catastrophic living conditions in houses without electricity and running water characterize the situation of most Roma in Kosovo. Excluded and excluded from education and income, they struggle for daily survival. Tens of thousands have already left the country bound for Serbia or western Europe. But many of them are sent back from western European countries. In Kosovo they hey have hardly any perspective. 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, but certainly not enough to be able to afford medical treatment. The average life expectancy of Roma people in Kosovo is around 45 years. Year: 2016

I met Victor when I took my first photographs at the age of 25 years. He was the head of communication of Von Roll, a major steel company in Switzerland and I needed his permission to photograph their wrecked down factories. To my surprise, Victor Bader gave me not only his permission, but also his support. Later I learnt that he also helped many artist, such as Jean Tinguely and Daniel Spoerri, by giving them access to the machines and ressources of the Von Roll factories. A few years after our first encounter, I met Victor Bader again when I went to a holiday in Tuscany. At that time, he and his wife Hedwig Ramseier, a former prison director, were running an Agritourismo called „Casa al Sole“. It was a coincidence that led us to the hotel in the remote hills of a small village called Montieri. Victor and Hedwig moved there from Switzerland in 1998 and for 10 years they successfully ran their agritourismo. They served guests from all over Europe, cooked for them, taught them how to ride horses, and produced around 750 liters of olive oil every year. We became friends and so I visited Victor and Hedwig regularly. I celebrated my 35th birthday with them, we had great dinner and a lot of wine. „You are a damn fool“ Victor told me at that evening. „You are waisting your talent as a photographer.“ I was working as a creative director for a advertsing agency at that time. Two years later I received a letter from Victor. He wrote me that Hedwig was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. In 2008, Victor had to bring her to a nursing home in Switzerland, where he visited her several times a year. With both their pensions invested in their estate, Victor struggled to produce the money for the cost-intensive care for his wife, living his life at a subsistence level. But he was not willing to give up the Agritourismo, even when Hedwig passed away in 2015. Victor was often alone with his cats, dogs and horses. I visited him again in 2014 and stayed with him for a week. He was proud to hear that I had quit my job in advertising and was working as a photographer again. Victor passed away in September 2016 while he was visiting relatives in Switzerland. When I went to the Casa al Sole in November, some of his cats were still there. I spent about an hour on the property. When I was driving away, I saw one of the cats standing in the gateway, squinting into the sun. I got out of the car and took my very last picture for this story about my friend Victor, who is responsible that I am working as a photographer today. Year: 2014 - 2016

In Ethiopia most people choose traditional means for complex mental health problems over clinical treatments. This is either because there is a huge gap between the available mental health facilities and the demand for it or people are too rooted with their traditional beliefs. In the country, there is only one dedicated specialized mental hospital with 268 beds for a population of more than 80 million. Therefore, it isn’t uncommon for the afflicted to seek spiritual cleansing and blessings in hope for deliverance from pastors or priests. This is also the case on Meskel day, where every year crowds of men, women, and children participate in a ritual at the Medhane Alem church – the largest of the rock-hewn churches in Lalibela. With its eleven 900-year-old churches carved from rock, the Ethiopian town of Lalibela attracts tens of thousands of orthodox pilgrims from all over Ethiopia each year. Meskel is one of the highest days of the Ethiopian Orthodox church. The festival is known as Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in other Orthodox, Catholic or Protestant churches. To heal diseases or free the bodies of believers from evil ghosts, a priest performs a ritual, in which he rubs the pilgrims with the Lalibela Cross. The origin of the Lalibela Cross goes back to to the 12th century and is considered one of Ethiopia‘s most precious religious and historical heritages. Year: 2014

IMPA is legendary in Buenos Aires as the first factory to be taken over by the staff after the company went bankrupt in 1997. On May 27, 1998, the company was adjudicated to the staff. The workers pooled their money, paid off debts, and resumed work at the machines. Jose Cortina is 80 years old and has been working at IMPA since 1947. During this time, he has seen four different military dictatorships. Cortina began his career as an administrative employee. Today he is a sales manager. He is responsible for contact with customers and his job is not easy. The machinery is old and unreliable and often delays delivery dates. But new machines would eliminate many jobs. Since each of IMPA’s workers is also a boss, no one can be laid off. To the question as to why they work at IMPA, most employees have an ironic answer: "Where am I going to get a job after all these years at IMPA ? At least there’s no boss here to whose tune we have to dance." Year: 2011

In August 2020, Civilization, a Chinese geography magazine asked me if they could publish my images from Oman in an article about the country, which is located on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. I went back to my archieves in order to re-edit my work which I photographed in April 2011. Back then I was assigned to shoot a series of images about Oman, portraiting the people, the landscapes and the culture of the Sultanate, Sixty years ago, Oman was still one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. After acceding to the throne in 1970, Sultan Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said modernized the country while preserving its culture and traditions. He embarked on economic reforms and authorized expenditures on health, education, sustainable development, and welfare by using Oman´s oil revenue. Quaboos refers to Islam as being a religion of tolerance and peace and prohibits any extremism. Today Oman is regarded as the most peaceful country in the Middle East. The images were taken 2011 in Muscat and the areas of Sur, Nizwa, and in the desert around Wahiba Sands. Year: 2011

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. Year: 2011

When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Georgia suffered a severe economic downturn which has left over half the population unemployed. When I visited the country on an assignment for a Swiss NGO in 2010, I found it in a state of melancholy. It was not long after the war. The economy was still low and unemployment a big problem. In Mirashkani, a remote village where I stayed almost for two weeks during my assignment, people were really struggling to survive. Even small kids had to work after school to help their parents to bring some food on the table. Economically, the country was in a very difficult state. Depression seemed to have oozed across the country like an epidemic. Some old parts of Tbilisi, the capital reminded me of Havana – the buildings crumbling because there was simply no money to restore them. At a first glance it was clear that the city has seen better days. I traveled across the country by car. Close to the Armenian border, we passed big, empty areas – ruins of collective farms (called ‘kolkhoz’ in Russian). Along the way, I witnessed villages like Gorelovka, abandoned by most of the young people who were looking for a better life somewhere else. Beyond the car windows, the landscape was wet and grey, all gun-metal skies and skeletal trees, and the people we passed by on our way were often sitting round waiting, perhaps for a light to pierce the clouds and offer some long-awaited miracle. Year: 2010

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 24,000 people, who are now squeezed together on approximately one square kilometer. The camp allegedly has one of the highest urban population densities in the world and it 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. Year: 2017

The sheep are everywhere. They populate house entrances and sidewalks, crowd on the islands of the roundabouts, bleat from the roofs. They cross the streets with a self-confidence reminiscent of holy cows in India. Yes, you can find them even where you wouldn't expect them, sometimes they come out from behind the walls of the barracks. It only gets spookily quiet once a year. Tabaski, the festival of sacrifice, where Muslims all over the world slaughter a sheep. In the Arab world it is called Eid al-Adha, in North Africa Eid al-Kabir, this year it will probably fall on the 21st or 22nd of August, which will be decided shortly after the state of the moon. Suddenly the bleating of thousands and thousands of sheep's throats stops. But this is not about death, but also about life.