The Disappearing Cattle Camps of South Sudan

For more than a thousand years, my Dinka (Jieng) people of South Sudan and other semi-nomadic Nilotic pastoralists have moved with their cattle across the region's vast floodplains, a rhythm of life dictated by the seasonal rains and the rise and fall of the Toch Wetland (Sudd). Cut off by distance, conflict, and geography from the rest of humanity, our cattle-centered way of life has remained largely unchanged for centuries. Until now. That isolation, long a source of protection from the outside world, is beginning to fade. Having returned to film over the last 3-4 years and inviting a film-maker friend one trip, we can finally share this shortened film, which explores daily life at my Dinka Bor (Pathuyith) cattle camp. As the modern world edges closer and closer, we wanted to capture and document a way of life I experienced as a young boy. It is a dying culture suspended between ancient tradition and encroaching change. This is an original work by Simon Jackson & Majier '75Meja' Madol. All rights Reserved (Don't copy, distribute or republish without permission. #Nilotic #Nilotes #Dinka #SouthSudan #CattleCamp #Nomadic #pastoralism #Cattle #Herding #DinkaBor #Cattlekeeping #Cows #Change #Modernity #Pathuyith #75Meja #SouthSudanese #BorCounty #Bor