The Young Bamum

We were in Foumban , the heart of the Bamum kingdom, a place where culture and history breathe through every street. My parents were visiting us in Cameroon, and I wanted to show them something meaningful. So we brought them to the Sultan’s Palace, a place rich with tradition and stories passed down through generations.

Just as our guide began to speak, I felt something behind me, not a sound, but a presence. I turned and saw two young boys watching us quietly. Curious eyes, calm expressions. They didn’t say a word, but there was a clear question in their gaze: Who are you, and what brings you here?

I asked them kindly if I could take their picture. They nodded, without hesitation. The younger one stepped forward. He didn’t pose, didn’t smile. He simply stood there, proud and still. The sun lit up his white tunic and touched the deep blue of his knitted cap, embroidered with symbols of his heritage.

In that moment, there was no need for words. His gaze held the kind of quiet strength that can’t be taught, only felt. A sense of belonging, of dignity, of identity carried without fear.

This photo is a tribute to that silent power. To the children who carry history in their eyes, and the future in their hearts.

Soon, I’ll share another frame from that day. One that shows both brothers together. But for now, this portrait stands on its own, as a reminder: Curiosity is universal. And even in brief encounters, there’s a chance to witness something deeply human.