The Face Of Poverty

This was Dickson ten years ago, a typical village of fifty households in the African country of Malawi. Photographed and described, five short years after the United Nations in September 2000 embraced their Millennium Development Goals, of which halving poverty and hunger by the end of 2015 is by far the most important one. Meet Hammard Andsen, penniless but the ‘richest’ man of the village. Meet Margerita Rafael, who lost eleven of her fifteen children shortly after birth. Look at Matrida Radael, one of the many women in the village who have been abandoned by their husbands. Look at Luka Eliamu, the only villager who owns a book: Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.

Photographer Jan Banning portrayed them in the largest – usually also the only – room of their mud house. Surrounded by their meagre possessions. Exceptionally poor yet dignified. Journalist Dick Wittenberg described their daily lives. Their plans, their concerns, their shame. Their heroic attempts to lead an ordinary life.

Famine

There was a famine in the village at that time. The corn harvest, which was to provide eighty percent of the annual food, had failed due to lack of rain. Daily life showed the essence of everyday poverty: lack of choice, no control over your own existence. Villagers did not have the option to cultivate their own land, so that the following year they would, in any case, have something to eat. Hunger forced them to hunt for food. Villagers with a sick baby could not go to the doctor for lack of money for medicines. A woman did not have the freedom to say ‘no’ to a man. His food supply, however small, would be her salvation.

Malawi, Dickson village. Standard 1 (first class) of Dickson Primary School, with 96 children.

Malawi, dorp Dickson, 11-2005.
He can't read or write, but he does have 3 ties and 2 jackets. They give him the dignity that is important to him as village headman. he decides in conflicts. He represents Dickson village at funerals in neighbouring villages. When he dies, he is buried in a special cemetary for village chiefs. But during life, he is just as poor as the others. Fanuel Saulos ((60) with his wife Dziko Gidala (53), son Kondwani (12) and granddaughter Margelita (14), both in school uniform, plus one of his rabbits. — Malawi, dorp Dickson, 11-2005. He can't read or write, but he does have 3 ties and 2 jackets. They give him the dignity that is important to him as village headman. he decides in conflicts. He represents Dickson village at funerals in neighbouring villages. When he dies, he is buried in a special cemetary for village chiefs. But during life, he is just as poor as the others. Fanuel Saulos ((60) with his wife Dziko Gidala (53), son Kondwani (12) and granddaughter Margelita (14), both in school uniform, plus one of his rabbits.

Malawi, Dickson village. Village chief Fanuel Saulos (70) with his wife Dziko Gidala (63) in their hut, with a special asset: their solar cell.

Malawi, Dickson, 2005. He is one of the best farmers in the village, even though he is still young. On the table lies a well-fingered pocket version of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. The only literature in the village. He reads from it daily. To keep up his english. To deepen his knowledge. Julius Caesar has tought him so much. Like the need to pay attention to warnings. Or else, you will come to grief. Luka Eliamu (23), married and father of a son (3).

Malawi, Dickson village. He is a connoisseur. Few in the village eat meat as often as he does. Though he doesn't even have cattle or chickens. He likes the meat of wild cat. Much better than that of chicken, goat or veal. He catches them: about five in a year. He wants to use their skins as decoration. Saulos Fanuel (25), with daughter Ketilina (2) and son Lefiyamu (1), and a bag of fertilizer. Saulos is the village headman's son.

Malawi, Dickson village. Saulos Fanuel (35), with 3 of their 4 children (L to R): son Jolam (5) and daughters Dorin (less than one year) and Ketilina (11). Saulos is the son of the village headman

Malawi, Dickson, 5-2005.
He is the richest man in the village. Even though his mud hut is no different from the others of three-and-a-half by four meters. But he does have a full granary. And a tobacco drying room with thatched roof. And cattle. And a bicycle. He is one of the few in the village who finished secondary school. Education is, according to him, the key for progress in life. One day, Hammard Andisen (27) will start a grocery in nearby market town Kasiya. That is his dream. — Malawi, Dickson, 5-2005. He is the richest man in the village. Even though his mud hut is no different from the others of three-and-a-half by four meters. But he does have a full granary. And a tobacco drying room with thatched roof. And cattle. And a bicycle. He is one of the few in the village who finished secondary school. Education is, according to him, the key for progress in life. One day, Hammard Andisen (27) will start a grocery in nearby market town Kasiya. That is his dream.

Malawi, Dickson village. Hammard Andisen (37), richest man (by far) in Dickson, with his wife Emelida Chikwana (33) and the two youngest of their 5 children: twins Precious (L) and Priscilla, both 3. The keyboard belongs to the church.

Malawi, Dickson, 11-2005. If she hadn’t been so playful at secondary school, she might never have become pregnant so young. Then, she might have become a teacher. But if you make a mistake, you have to bear the consequences. She is fortunate that a man asked her to be his second wife. Now she uses her intelligence in the rivalry struggle with his first wife (Matrida Rafael, photo 3). She will conquer. Anny Bizaliel (37) with her husband Arbart Katayika (44).

Malawi, Dickson, 11-2005.  The worst thing she experienced? She can’t choose. That their eight cows were stolen, six years ago? Ever since, the remains of the ox cart stand useless, next to her house. Or that she lost a son to aids, after his wife had died from aids as well? Ever since, they take care of the three grandchildren. Ever since, they are tired. Keterina Augustino (60) with her husband Augustino Wilson (63) and their grandchildren Selinati, Pemphero en Stephen.

Malawi, Dickson village. Augustino Wilson (73), his wife Keterina Augustino (70) and their granddaughters (L to R) Mariguerita (14), Msakiria (10) and Efero (7).

Malawi, Dickson, 11-2005. He is one of the few villagers who finished secondary school. He wanted to become a teacher. He still flirts with the city. His desires are those of a city dweller. Table and chairs, nice clothes, trendy sunglasses. He looks for a foreign pen pal, preferably a FC Liverpool fan. For the time being, he has promised his father, Hopeson Thunde (photo 22) to become a good farmer. Aron Thunde with his wife lamesi and baby son Bestar.

Malawi, Dickson village. Aron Thunde (b. 1977) with his wife lamesi and his youngest son Ian.

Malawi, Dickson, 11-2005.  He is one of the villagers who is slightly better off. He also grows tobacco. He has six chickens and a goat. He owns a bike. The chairs are the remains of a lounge suite that he bought in the capital Lilongwe, eight years ago. The only one in Dickson.

Malawi, Dickson village. Rice Nyangulu (33), wife Jenit (35) and (L to R) sons Vickson (b. 2001), Callings (b. 2009) – who has had a heart operation in the USA – and Robert (b. 2002).

Malawi, Dickson, 11-2005.  He is from the kind of family that runs out of maize already during harvest time. So he roams around the fields, looking for maize-ears that have been left behind. So he often misses school. Hos banjo is his only comfort. The songs? He writes them by himself. About a woman who gives herself to the men, because she has nothing to eat. About a brother who succumbed to aids. He is desperate because his mother has been exchanged for another woman by his father (photo 25b). Even his banjo can’t help him now. Mahamudi Charles (15) is in the third grade of primary school.

Malawi, Dickson village. “Banjo Man” (previously “Banjo Boy”) Mahamudi Charles (25) in the house of his parents.

Malawi, Dickson, 11-2005.  His wife discovered that he had another woman. She kept on whining about it. They often quarreled. Till he was fed up. Now, he’s living with the other woman. His first wife could have stayed. It was her own choice, to go back to her village. Majekete Sina (43), Mahamudi Charles’ (photo 25a) father.

Malawi, Dickson, 5-2005. More and more often, she is thinking of the dead she buried. Her husband, who died during the 2002 famine. Eleven of her fifteen children. Nothing can give her joy. Not even dancing with the other women. She only does that to make the children ahppy. Children shouldn’t notice that you have worries. Margerita Rafael (65).

Malawi, Dickson village. Mariguerita Rafael (born 1940) in her hut.

Malawi, Dickson, 11-2005.  She is one of the few women in the village who uses contraception, from the health post. Three children is all she wants. They can’t feed more anyway. Her husband agrees. He respects his wife. He doesn’t scream. He doesn’t drink. He doesn’t beat. She thinks he is the most tender man in Dickson. Enifa Gostino (20) with her husband Dryson Bulaimu (22) and baby Wizilamu.

Malawi, Dickson village. Dryson Bulaimu, his wife Jennifer Gostino (aka Enifa Kanangi) and their son Andrew (5).

Malawi, Dickson, 11-2005.  Her marriage lasted less than a year. Only when she moved to her husbands village did she find out that he was already married. She became his second wife. He never took care of her. Sometimes he beat her. For the time being, she doesn’t want to remarry. Even though life is hard for a woman on her own. Zeneti Julias (22) with her son Manda-Aliza (1). Marigerita Rafael (photo 26) is her aunt.   Haar huwelijk heeft nog geen jaar geduurd. Pas toen ze verhuisde naar het dorp van haar man, kwam ze erachter dat hij al getrouwd was. Ze werd zijn tweede vrouw. Nooit heeft hij voor haar gezorgd. Soms sloeg hij. Voorlopig wil ze niet hertrouwen ook al vind ze het zwaar als vrouw alleen. Zeneti Julias (22) met haar zoon Mandalisa (1). Marigerita Rafael (foto 26) is haar tante.

Malawi, Dickson village. Thomas Halison (32) and Zeneti Julius (32) with their daughters Kolofilida (7) and Gine (3) and son Mandalisa (11).

Malawi, Dickson, 11-2005.  She has contracted the aids virus. She is the only one in Dickson to admit it. Indoors only. To a stranger. Outside, nobody should know. In the village, only her parents are informed. They encourage her to persevere. Joyce Foliasi (27) with daughters Ndaziona (6) and Yankho (11 months). Ndaziona means: “I have a lot of worries”. Yankho is the local word for “answer”.

Malawi, Dickson, 11-2005.  He has just married. He had harvested fourty kilos of tobacco. Just enough to compensate his parents-in-law for the loss of their daughter. He even had some money left to buy a pan and a spoon. He doesn’t want to have more than two children, even though the other villagers think that strange. He wants to take very good care of his children. That is impossible if you have more than two. Simon Layitan (21) with his wife Rhoda Naman (20) who is pregnant.

Malawi, Dickson village. Simon Layitan (31), his wife Rhoda Naman (31), their daughter Chrissy (4) and their son Sosten (1).

Malawi, Dickson, 11-2005.  Her parents have warned her. She didn’t listen. The marriage only lasted for three months. Then he disappeared, with a blanket and all kitchen-utensils. She refuses to call his name. Even though he is the father of her child. She is not welcome anymore in her parents’ house. Now, she lives with her grandmother (photo 1). One mistake is enough, if you live in Dickson. Fanny Mackisoni (18), daughter of Agnes Mackisoni (photo 17), with her son Ganizani David.

Malawi, dorp Dickson, 11-2005.  She is among the poorest. Only part of the year, she eats the maize flour balls that are the basis of every meal in Dickson. She has little else that the clothes she wears. Her children lag behind in growth. But some others are still worse-off. She has a bike. She keeps it indoors, for fear of thieves. Livinese Henry (27) with her children Simenti (6) and Owen (2).

Malawi, Dickson village. Livinese Henri (37) and her children by another man in the village (L to R) Akim (7) and Chimwenwe (4)., Owen (12, who wants to become a doctor) and Simenti (15. He wants to become a driver).

Malawi, Dickson village. Griseria Chazyia (39) is infertile. In 2006, her husband "dismissed" her because of her miscarriages. Since then, she has returned to her village, Dickson. The children are her sister's son Sofasi (16) and her present husband's Elinati (7).

Malawi, Dickson village. Matias Sadalaki (48) and wife Asnat (41), who has diabetes. She gave birth to seven children: two died, one is married, four still live at home (but are in school now).

Malawi, Dickson village, a hamlet with 55 households and some 300 inhabitants.

Malawi, Dickson village, a hamlet with 55 households and some 300 inhabitants. Fetching water in the "dambo", the irrigated gardens.

Malawi, Dickson village, a hamlet with 55 households and some 300 inhabitants. Corn fields after a bad harvest.

Malawi, 6-2005.  Group portrait of mostf the inhabitans of 'Dickson' village. To the left of the pump, standing, the village headman; to the right of the pump, sitting, Anderson Isimu (65), maimed by leprosy since 1973, once the richest, now the poorest man in the hamlet.   Malawi, Dorf Dickson.

Afrika/Africa, Malawi, 6-2005.Dorpshoofd ('Amfumu') Fanyel Dickson (geb. 1945), van het dorp Dickson (waarnaar hij genoemd is) onder een Poinsettia-boom.Village chief ('Amfumu') Fanyel Dickson (b. 1945) under Poinsettia ("Christmas Star") tree.

Afrika/Africa, Malawi, 6-2005.Vrouw met bezems op haar jurk veegt 's morgens vroeg haar erf in het dorp Dickson. Achter haar haar keukentje.Woman with brooms on her dress sweeps the yard around her house in Dickson village, in the early morning. Behind her her kitchen.Morgens früh fegt eine Frau mit Besen auf ihr Kleid ihr Hof im Dorf Dickson. Hinter ihr ihre Küche.

Afrika/Africa, Malawi, 6-2005.Mannelijke inwoners van het dorp Dickson rusten uit bij de schaduw van een installatie om tabak in balen te verpakken.Male inhabitants of village of Dickson resting from work near the shadow of an installation for packaging tobacco in bales.Männliche Einwohner vom Dorf Dickson ruhen beim Schatten einer Installation um Tabak in Säcke zu verpacken.

Publication and aftermath

Publication of text and photographs in the weekend magazine of the leading Dutch newspaper “NRC Handelsblad” garnered a record number (for that newspaper) of 600 letters to the editor. The cover story under the headline “The Face of Poverty ‘ had touched its readers deeply. A spontaneous fundraiser among those readers raised nearly 80,000 euro. This money was used over a period of five years to support the village; in the form of corn, fertilizer and water pumps. During that period, Dick Wittenberg returned to the village eight times in total. A committee of readers was set up to make sure the money was spent in a meaningful manner.

Going back, ten years after: signs of hope

Look at Dickson now. For the last five years they have been supporting themselves. It’s still a typical village, still poor. But what a difference from a decade ago. Goats and chickens roam freely all over the village. Many of the mud huts have been replaced by brick houses. Children go to school and the sick to the doctor. Single women take care of themselves. Jan Banning and Dick Wittenberg return more than ten years later to Dickson. Just before the deadline of the Millennium Development Goals expires. Jan Banning will portray the same villagers in the same indoor locations again. Again surrounded by their possessions. One glance will be enough to see how much this village has changed. What has changed? What caused this change? What are the consequences? What is the perspective? Was this global lofty goal of halving poverty and hunger achieved? Why did progress in Africa lag so far behind? Dick Wittenberg will report about this from Dickson, the village where residents now have a choice, because they escaped extreme poverty.

Postscript: stylistics

At the time of publication, copies of ‘M’, portraits, and a group photo for each of the families also arrived as presents in Dickson. Generally, photographers apply the ‘fly on the wall’ principle: an apparently invisible person catches images of people, seemingly unconscious of his presence. When Banning returned to Dickson, he was confronted with the traces of his first visit: again photographing inside the houses, he came across copies of the M Magazine and of his own photos, polaroids (shot during his first stay) that had been stuck on walls etc. Not interfering meant, in this case, letting the signs of his earlier “interference” show. It made sense to accept this, as it seemed an interesting correspondence with the content of the story: the white men’s presence had influenced developments in the village.

Exhibition

48 photos, 60×60 cm, on dibond, unframed, with introduction and captions. Weight excl. crates: 170 kg.