The beautiful people of Namibia's slums

 

Photos and text by Jacob Holdt

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Aids in the slums

People with aids were probably those I developed the strongest relationships with during my entire stay in Namibia. Especially those I lived with such as Agnes' and Elina's families (seen below), who were aware of their aids conditions. Many other families, whom I spent time or nights with, were probably also HIV-positive, but it was not an issue and we rarely talked about the possibility. There were funerals around us all the time, but people died so fast that I rarely saw the emaciation of the aids-people I lived with in Haiti.
 

       
My Donna Sick Ovambo woman Agnes and the wrath of God My Aids infected hostess in Katutura
My Donna Sick
Ovambo woman
Agnes and
the wrath of God
My Aids infected
hostess in Katutura
Old woman caring for aids victims Agnes in front of "our" home A dying mother Dying mother with her children
Old woman 
caring for aids victims
Agnes in
front of "our" home
A dying mother Dying mother 
with her children
Agnes after the robbery Waiting for her death Orphan starved for love Soon to be orphan
Agnes 
after the robbery
Waiting
for her death
Orphan
 starved for love
Soon to be orphan
Agnes in her tin roof shack Caretaker of aids orphans in Katutura Agnes mother, dying from aids in Katutura  Old woman in Katutura
Agnes in her
tin roof shack
Caretaker of aids orphans in Katutura Agnes mother, dying from aids in Katutura Old woman in Katutura
Safe sex saves lives My hostess Agnes with our next dor neighbour My hostesss Agnes with our neighbor in Katutura My Donna
Safe sex saves lives My hostess Agnes with our next dor neighbour My hostesss Agnes with our neighbor in Katutura My Donna
My hostess Agnes inspecting our shack My hostess Agnes in the Katutura slum    
My hostess Agnes inspecting our shack My hostess Agnes in the Katutura slum    

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