20/04/2026
The road to Nwonyo was not kind to me. As a photographer, I’ve chased light in many places, but this journey tested me differently. The sun came up gently that morning, but the road was long, rough, and tiring. Dust followed me everywhere, and somewhere along the way, the rain beat me hard. It soaked through everything, slowed me down, and made the journey even more difficult. My camera bag felt heavier with every step, and at some point I honestly questioned if it was all worth it. Still, I kept going.
By the time I finally arrived, I was exhausted, but everything changed the moment I lifted my eyes. People had come from far and near different faces, different stories all gathered for something bigger than just an event. The energy was alive, drums beating, laughter in the air, culture on full display. I met incredible faces along the way locals who carried the spirit of the festival, travelers who came out of curiosity, and fellow creatives like me, cameras in hand, all chasing moments that words can barely explain. There was this unspoken connection between us; we understood the struggle it took to be there.
Then came the main moment the rush, the water, the intensity. Men diving into the river, fighting for their catch, for pride, for history. In that moment, I forgot how tired I was. I just kept shooting every splash, every expression, every second that felt too powerful to miss.
Standing there, I realized something: the struggle to get there was part of the story I was meant to tell. Nothing real comes easy. And as I packed up later, tired but fulfilled, I knew deep down… it was all worth it.
— Nafinji Mary
fishing
