In the Saghro Mountains
Morocco in the late 90’s.
A young Berber man watches his family’s flock of sheep. He is dressed for the cold with multiple layers and a hand-woven wool djellaba over his shoulder. He carries a home made ‘thermos’ of a plastic bottle covered with leather and a cloth sack filled with homemade bread. He shyly refused to let me photograph his face.
In the High Atlas Mountains
A much younger shepherd boy is watching his family’s goats. He wears a version of a burnoose which is a cape with a hood fastened at the throat. It doesn’t seem to be large enough to cover him. His skin is mottled with the cold.
When he saw us passing on the dirt track above him, he chased after us, running at top speed, scrambling up the rock strewn hill. If you look you can see his flock about midway through the photograph. He asked for something…I don’t remember what, maybe just a ‘cadeau’… a gift. Not only was he cold, but he was bored. I think just seeing us and talking to my guide was a treat for him, a break in a long lonely day. Luckily, we had some snacks to share with him. From my experience as a farmergirl, I can tell you that he was happy to sit and eat peanuts while he watched over the goats.
If you want to see or photograph the real Morocco, contact: www.adventureswithali.com Ali can arrange tours to remote villages with a Berber guide.