Central Asia has a fascinating history; one can see everywhere the legacy of invasion and retreat, invasion and retreat. That's all Central Asian history is -- Chinese, Persians and Russians have ruled here. The people look Turkish and Mongol and Caucasian, some kissed with blue eyes, care of Alexander the Great genetic graffiti and other invaders.
Since the independence in 1991 of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan economic reform has been painfully slow and poverty and unemployment are widespread. Especially the women are carrying the burden. Under Soviet rule they had more freedom then nowadays and they had a job! Since then a lot have changed for women, for example an increase of arranged marriages, the use of dowries and some women have covered themselves fully from head to foot.
But also the women of Central-Asia are courageous. The economic and social crises have made them strong and inventive and many women have developed their own small business. In this way they can survive the hardship which life has brought to them, since the change in 1991.
This gallery is an hommage to my friends in Central Asia, to give the women of Central Asia a face.
my friend natalya
Roza
Ludmila
nazmir
Natsascha
Raisa and a Kyrgiz family
Farmerwoman
Female Singer in Ferghana
Hilola
Business women group
Selling apples
Selling bread
Traditional silk weaving hall
weaving
tapestry knotting
dyeing silk threads
spinning silk
Silk weaving
Decorative Weaving Loom
Playing checkers
selling uzbek dresses
farmer women with donkey
girl at the market
women selling medicines
Hilola with her mother Titjana, her aunt and her grandmother
selling tomato's at Ferghama market
uzbek woman at Ferghana market
wedding dancer
Ludmilla and Julia
Concert of Yulduz Usmanova at Margilan football stadium
What a wonderful gallery...some beautiful faces here!!
Guest
22-Sep-2009 18:26
Wonderfull collection of photographs. You are lucky to have travelled to that region. I have checked it out many times on Google Earth, but it doesn't bring us that close. Vµ