Namutebi

The Power of Roots

Uganda

 

I am Namutebi!

I come from the region around Lake Victoria in Uganda. My family has lived from hunting for generations. My father taught me early on to read tracks, interpret sounds, and be observant. For us, the forest was not a place, but a system in which one moved. Even if much has disappeared, this knowledge has remained.

When I was sixteen, I had to leave my homeland. Political tensions and conflicts made life unsafe. I came to Germany via several stops. I was assigned to a community in the Black Forest. The first months were difficult. Language, climate, the order here. But the forest immediately felt familiar. It is different from the one I knew, colder, denser, quieter. But it functions according to similar rules.

My greatest wish is to return to hunting here. I don't know if it will come true. Training as a hunter would be my way to strengthen the connection to my homeland.

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The image combines African heritage with elements of the Black Forest through clear, symbolic details. The hat with a feather refers to hunting, movement, and the connection to nature, as also seen in South German traditions. The tattoos pick up organic forms and are reminiscent of patterns derived from landscape and wildlife. The warm green tones represent growth and earthiness. Jewelry and piercings set targeted accents and refer to cultural identity. The details show a figure who has not lost her connection to nature, but consciously carries it forward.

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