Mention honorable dans la catégorie « Reportage »

Buzkashi is an ancient equestrian game still played widely in Central Asia and Afghanistan. Literally meaning "goat grabbing", an undefined number of riders fight for a goat carcass, usually all against all, with the goal to deposit the carcass into a scoring area. Living and working inTajikistan, I had the chance to visit several buzkashi games and was fascinated by the wild spectacle and the glimpses into traditional male identity it represents. Horses are valuable and a matter of pride and prestige, but the games are not for the faint-hearted and injuries of both riders and horses occur frequently. Buzkashi games are a common past time for men and boys in rural areas and usually take place on weekends. In a region where political systems, traditional gender roles and challenges of common day life offer little room for oblivion or passions, buzkashi is one of the few opportunities where men can experience adventure, heroism and act out traditional self-conceptions of manliness without the responsibilities that come with family and marriage. The game is highly dynamic. Galloping sprints interchange with wads of riders and horses scrimmaging around the carcass. The boots and short lashes, often carried in the mouth by the riders, as well the saddles of the horses are handmade products of traditional leather craftsmanship. Sometimes Soviet era tank helmets are used as protective gear. Around the arena stalls with shashlik and other local food serve the needs of spectators, who squat on the ground on surrounding hills. Due to the strain, horses are exchanged every 20-30 minutes. The invisible busy bees behind any such event are the women and girls who prepare food, tend to the injured riders and are expected to admire the heroes.