Moustafa (Classic Print)

Erg Chebbi, Errachidia Province, Morocco: He eagerly asked for my phone, ran up a dune, and started snapping photos of our tour group, thinking that’s what I wanted. I smiled and took out my camera, capturing him as he tried to keep up with us.

Later that night, I found him in the camp kitchen. His name was Moustafa, and he was cooking for our group. As we talked, I learned his story. He came from a traditional nomadic Berber family. Nearly ten years ago, his family's goats, their main source of income, died when the wells dried up—a first in living memory. With no other options, they had to abandon their way of life.

Now, Moustafa works for a company taking care of tourists and camels, cooking, cleaning, and entertaining strangers. Despite the hardship, as I watched him rush plates of food to the mess tent, his cheerful spirit shone through. He entered to applause, his voice rising with the rhythm of drums, clear and full of life.

Looking up at the night sky, I reflected on his journey. Once a nomad, now a photographer, chef, camel herder, and musician. Here was a man whose life had taken a strange turn; he had been forced to leave behind a way of life that had been passed down through generations, one that was inextricably linked to the rhythms of the desert and the ebb and flow of its resources. And yet, he adapted and found a way to survive.

His story is a reminder that the impacts of climate change and economic shifts are not distant or abstract. They are deeply felt by people like Moustafa, who find themselves torn between tradition and survival. Yet, the impact of these forces is not confined to them alone. It touches all of us. Perhaps that's why we seek out places like these, to connect with guides like Moustafa, who can offer a glimpse of a world that we've lost somewhere along the way. 

About this print:
Gicleé inks on museum-grade, 0.43mm thick 100% premium cotton archival paper. Acid free. Smooth-matte surface provides a beautiful organic texture and excellent viewing from any angle. 

Note:
A 0.6-inch, white border runs along the perimeter of the image. Does not come framed. Please allow print to gently flatten out over a few days upon arrival before framing or hanging.