Photographer: Matthew Abbott
Multimedia producer: Lin Taylor
Photographer Matthew Abbott spent a week with a Dinka Gok clan in Cueibet County, South Sudan. Abbott first heard about the tribe through his flatmate Abraham who lived with him in Juba.
Abraham, 27, was raised on a Dinka Gok cattle farm, but left that life behind to work as a security guard in the city.
With his interest piqued, Abbott hopped on a motorbike to visit the Dinka Gok village where Abraham grew up.
"We made the journey to his village where he was from, which was a motorbike trip. We had a driver, myself and Abraham and all our bags and cameras. It was quite an adventure – a grueling five hour trip out to the bush," Abbott said.
"Abraham hadn't been back there for nearly four years, so he was really happy to be back and seeing a lot of people that he recognised."
Although there was ongoing unrest and fighting between cattle camps, Abraham assured Abott that his tribe would make the visit as safe as possible.
"We talked about how dangerous it was entering these areas that have constant fighting. But Abraham assured me that he could take me to his particular tribe, and because I was with him, I would be really safe," he told SBS. "Safe in a sense that they would look after me. But of course, there were no assurances that we wouldn't be attacked.
"Only two weeks earlier, there were ten people killed from his tribe. So the chance of attack was definitely a possibility. But once we arrived, it was really great to meet his family. They were very welcoming and happy for me to photograph them."
The tribal leader wipes ash on his cattle and on himself for protection against mosquitoes and other insects. (Matthew Abbott)
Clan members bring their cattle back into the camp when a storm hits. As goats and cattle are their livelihood, the tribe ensures animals are protected from the elements. (Matthew Abbott)
Tribesmen wait for their cattle to return to camp. Ropes are used to tie the animals to stakes overnight. (Matthew Abbott)
(Matthew Abbott)
The tribe celebrates after a wedding dowry is negotiated and settled. (Matthew Abbott)
Boys play-fight in the camp. (Matthew Abbott)
At dawn, the tribe prepares to take the cattle out of the camp for grazing. (Matthew Abbott)
The Dinka Gok people live in close proximity to their cattle, which is their livelihood and source of wealth. (Matthew Abbott)
After a storm, children huddle around burning cow dung to keep warm. (Matthew Abbott)
Believing they are under attack, tribesmen send cattle and goats back to the camp so the animals aren't stolen by rival clans. (Matthew Abbott)
Believing they are under attack, a boy with an AK-47 races to the scene where a potential fight has broken out. (Matthew Abbott)
Tribesmen casually stroll back to camp when they realise they're not being raided or attacked by a rival clan. (Matthew Abbott)
A mother and her children rest under a tarpaulin. Cow's milk, stored in vessels, is their main source of food. (Matthew Abbott)
A young boy leads goats back into camp after a storm breaks out. As goats and cattle are their livelihood, the tribe ensures animals are protected from the elements. (Matthew Abbott)
The tribal leader performs a goat sacrifice in an attempt to stop cattle raiding and revenge attacks. As wedding dowries increase, clans are forced to steal each others' livestock, and if necessary, kill whoever stands in their way. (Matthew Abbott)
(Matthew Abbott)
A child scoops up cow dung to keep the cattle clean. Cow dung is also heated for warmth and to deter mosquitoes. (Matthew Abbott)
Children remove thorns from each others' feet. (Matthew Abbott)
(Matthew Abbott)
Gok Dinka children playing games to pass the time. (Matthew Abbott)
Women from another clan dance and sing to celebrate a wedding. These women will then live in separate quarters for a few months as part of the marriage celebrations. (Matthew Abbott)
