The Dawa
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PhotographerSarah Elliott, United States
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Website
A faith healer has brought hope to hundreds of thousands, but he has also convinced them to abandon HIV medication. On January 10th, 1991, Reverend Ambilikile "Babu" Mwasapile, a 76 year old Tanzanian dreamed a cure for AIDS. A woman appeared to him, a woman he knew to be infected with the virus and god sent him to the bush for a cure. Today, hundreds of thousands of people across the world make the journey to see Babu and drink his magic Dawa. Mr Mwasapile's concoction is made from herbs and water, which he sells for 500 Tanzanian shillings. Some people have even been taken out of hospital by their relatives who believe they are more likely to be cured by Mr Mwasapile.Some of these have died before seeing him, while others are reported to have died after taking his concoction. Mr Mwasapile instructs his visitors to stop taking their medication once they have drunk the dawa.
Sarah Elliott (1984), USA, is a graduate of Parson's School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Sarah has traveled extensively and is interested in documenting social issues in Africa with a focus on women. Stories include reproductive rights in Kenya, maternal mortality in Ethiopia, fistula repair in Central African Republic and women's roles during the Revolutions. In 2010 Sarah was selected by the Magenta Foundation as a Flash Forward Emerging Photographer winner, as well as being selected to participant in the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass: Persistence. In 2011 Sarah was short listed for the Anthropographia Award for Human Rights as well as winning 3rd prize in the Contemporary Issues Stories category at World Press Photo. In addition, she was the premier winner of the 2011 GLOBAL WORLD: Through the lens of human rights award and a winner in the photojournalism section of PDN Photo Annual 2011. Sarah received bronze in the 2011 "Prix de la Photographie, Paris" (Px3).
