Esther Ruth Mbabazi

Photographer

www.esthermbabazi.com

Coming of Age Amidst Conflict

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Location: Kampala, Uganda

Nationality: Ugandan

Biography: Esther Ruth Mbabazi is a photographer based in Kampala, Uganda. Esther uses storytelling and photojournalism to address issues in her society. Coming from a humble background, her work explores changing conditions on the African continent, with a... MORE

Students from the VIP Academy ... Graphic design, among others.

1 of 11 © 2024 Esther Mbabazi

Students from the VIP Academy for Aviation & Technology march on their graduation day in Juba, South Sudan. The students graduated in courses like Air ticketing, Flight reservations, Flight check in, Graphic design, among others.

Phoebe (centre) chills with her... student and an aspiring model.

2 of 11 © 2024 Esther Mbabazi

Phoebe (centre) chills with her friends at a meeting space for youths in Juba, a space created by an artivist group 'Ana Taban.' Pheobe is a medical student and an aspiring model.

A university student uses her p...thiopia while fleeing conflict.

3 of 11 © 2024 Esther Mbabazi

A university student uses her phone. Many young people stay connect via the internet with friends and relatives that left South Sudan to neighbouring countries like Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia while fleeing conflict.

A member of the dance crew &am... and have fun while doing this

4 of 11 © 2024 Esther Mbabazi

A member of the dance crew ‘Wup Soul’ which translates to ‘fantastic soul’ shows off his moves before their performance at the National Basketball League finals in Juba town, South Sudan. Young people in South Sudan do not have many spaces to access arts and recreational activities, but young people like this guy self-teach themselves and have fun while doing this

Karate practice at Hai Neem Yo...school and in school holidays.

5 of 11 © 2024 Esther Mbabazi

Karate practice at Hai Neem Youth Center in Juba town. The youth center provides space for training in different sports and recreational activities like boxing, dancing among others. Youths frequent the center and take up an activity in their free time especially in the evenings after school and in school holidays.

Phoebe, 22, is photographed du...s and also earn a good salary.

6 of 11 © 2024 Esther Mbabazi

Phoebe, 22, is photographed during her work shift after classes. She moved back to South Sudan in 2011 after the new nation gained its Independence from the bigger Sudan. Phoebe is studying a Bachelors in Medicine at the University of Juba. She works part time to be able to take care of herself as she lives in the city by herself. She wants to be a doctor so she can help save and improve people’s lives and also earn a good salary.

Coming of Age Amidst Conflict

7 of 11 © 2024 Esther Mbabazi

Ramses, 21 lives with his grand... the pain inside me.’

8 of 11 © 2024 Esther Mbabazi

Ramses, 21 lives with his grandparents and uncles in Juba since he lost his parents. The passing of his parents made him join the rap industry because ‘through music, I release the pain inside me.’

Alliyah, 22 gets her hair plait...tant - to feel better.'

9 of 11 © 2024 Esther Mbabazi

Alliyah, 22 gets her hair plaited in Juba, South Sudan. Despite all the insecurities the young people in the country have been through, identity and image is one of the things that the youths have kept well. For young women like Alliyah, 'taking good care of yourself and how you look is very important - to feel better.'

Students from the VIP Academy ... Graphic design, among others.

10 of 11 © 2024 Esther Mbabazi

Students from the VIP Academy for Aviation & Technology march on their graduation day in Juba, South Sudan. The students graduated in courses like Air ticketing, Flight reservations, Flight check in, Graphic design, among others.

Ramses aka Wess Joker is a 21-...e in rebuilding their country.

11 of 11 © 2024 Esther Mbabazi

Ramses aka Wess Joker is a 21-year-old upcoming Hip-hop artiste in Juba, South Sudan. A student in the Geology and Mining department at Juba University, Ramses hopes to be a star through rapping. He hopes that South Sudanese youths get to collaborate in rebuilding their country.

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Public Story

Coming of Age Amidst Conflict

Copyright Esther Mbabazi 2024

Date of Work May 2016 - Ongoing

Updated May 2019

Location Juba, South Sudan

Topics Adolescence, Beauty, Civil Wars, Community, Documentary, Editorial, Emotion, Photography, Photojournalism, Reporting, Youth

The photo essay documents what life is like growing up in South Sudan, a country that has been in conflict since its Independence in 2011 and for decades before. For the series, I focus on photographing young people under 30 years of age as I explore how different / similar being a youth is in different locations even with different backgrounds. I wanted to explore and see how these young people stay sane amidst all the insecurities and conflicts that have affected their lives directly. This is an image of South Sudan that is usually under-looked and left out. It is a documentation of everyday life out of South Sudan. This is a chapter continuation of my longterm project documenting youths of Africa as the purely young continent continues to grows.

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Publications

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Jul 11, 2017 - Ongoing

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Nov 14, 2018 - Ongoing

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