The youngest cowboy of Africa

It was a wonderful experience to meet a 4/5 years old boy who was controlling a big herd of cattle in a remote vast hilly area of DR Congo. Basically we (one of my colleagues and a local boy who used to work for us were also with me) went to the area with a reference of local chief to buy several cows from a herdsman for an upcoming festival which will be celebrated by the Bangladeshi peace-keepers in eastern Congo. However, to reach the cow-owner we were advised to go to his house or a field where his cattle were grazing. We went to his house and got him absent there. So we planned to go the field to catch him. The area was green with scattered small bush and herbs. Visualizing few red cows from faraway we sensed that that’s the destination we aimed at. After half an hour journey by a jeep, we could reach there. Unfortunately the owner was not there, and the cattle were being looked after by a small kid. We became astonished to see the courage of a small child who was smartly handling more than thirty cows including oxen and bullocks.

This is the boy whom I initially discovered in the middle of the cattle. Really he is a lionhearted youngster!

He is in action!

He is shy!

I tried to talk to him though; I felt that he was indifferent about us. Of course he was a bit curious, but he intentionally hid it. I took his photos, wanted to be close so that he could be free with us. I asked him about his father.  He informed us that his papa had gone to another village to buy cows. He told us to wait as his elder brother would come shortly.

By this time I photographed him though he was quite shy. It was really a nice day with a young cowboy.