dancemaker: fishing boys
For the past 4 days, I have watched these boys scan the shore with their net. They can come from either direction. Today, they came from the south-western direction in the morning and worked their way up till till they were out of my site and then turned around and came back again. They have a very organized manner in how they do their fishing. Today there were about 11 boys. At least 2 work the net by walking along combing the waters. Meanwhile, a group of about 5-7 others spread out evenly and run, splash, and jump ahead scanning the waters and yelling loudly as they chase their prey into the net. Another boy stays behind or close to the net shouting as he holds secure a bag for whatever they’re catching. A few other very young boys straddle closer to the shore with sticks and, I assume, learn by watching. When there is a successful catch, they all meet by speedily and deftly forming a circle around the net, holding it and talking loudly as the boy with the bag puts the treasure into it.
They continue in this way along the shore. Shouting, yelling, directing, they come in and out of their organized forms. They exhibit pure enthusiasm and focus. Their spatial relationships with each other are totally organic and efficient.
It is a joy to watch such meaningful choreography.
-on Galu Beach in Diani on the South Coast of Kenya not far from Mombasa where the Indian Ocean meets the people as an intimate kind of paradise.