Public Story
The Water Collectors
While people in urban areas have different ways of accessing clean water, this is not the case for quite a number of individuals in rural and semi-urban areas.
In February 2021, I was on assignment in Kwaja which is a ward in Mubi South Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria. Kwaja is in a rocky area and borders a part of Cameroon. A handful of communities in Kwaja are solely dependent on various natural water source(s).
In several communities in different parts of Nigeria especially rural and semi-urban areas, children and women are tasked with fetching water for their families. However, in some communities in Kwaja, it is the men who fetch water for their households. While the children can choose to join their fathers or the men in this task, it is the primary duty of the men to collect water.
The diptychs in this photo essay feature portraits of the men versus the things and objects that are synonymous with their water collection. Other images in the photo essay give insight into what it is like to take on this task of water collection for the men in Kwaja, Adamawa state. It also sheds light on the challenges that they face due to the depleting water source in the area.
As the world continues to face the devastating impact of a rapidly changing climate, people in communities like Kwaja are constantly feeling the effect. Sadly, they are the least contributors to it.
All images taken while on assignment for WaterAID UK. You can learn more here.
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