Buzkashi, a sport with roots stretching back to the era of Genghis Khan, is a fiercely competitive and physically demanding game played across Central Asia. In this ancient tradition, large groups of skilled horsemen vie for possession of a headless goat carcass. The objective is for a player to seize the carcass and maintain control of it long enough to successfully deposit it across a designated goal line on the ground.
The game operates on a principle of pure individual effort, with no formal teams. It’s a true “every man for himself” scenario, where matches can extend for as long as six hours, showcasing incredible stamina and equestrian prowess.
The photographer, seeking to return to the fundamental elements of light and tone with a black and white series, found Buzkashi to be a fitting subject. Having observed a significant amount of Buzkashi footage originating from Tajikistan, the decision was made to travel there. To navigate the logistical challenges, including the discreet and word-of-mouth dissemination of match schedules typically announced only a few days in advance, a local fixer was hired.
Buzkashi: A Brutal Sport of Genghis Khan’s Era
Buzkashi is a brutal sport that dates back to Genghis Khan. These Tajik players are trying to grab the body of a goat and drop it over a goal line. It’s every man for himself – and games can last six hours.
I can’t remember where I first read about Buzkashi. Played across Central Asia, the sport is thought to date back to the time of Genghis Khan. It involves large groups of men on horseback trying to grab the headless body of a goat and keep control of it long enough to drop it over a line marked on the ground. There are no teams, it’s every man for himself, and games can last six hours.
My projects often involve heightened color, but when I decided I wanted to get back to the basics of light and tone and do a black and white series, this subject seemed to fit. A lot of the Buzkashi footage I’d found was from Tajikistan, so I went there, hiring a local fixer to help deal with the logistics as news of the time and place of matches tends to travel by word of mouth just a few days in advance.