Bena people are an ethnic group in Ethiopia historically related to ancient Egypt. Just like most of the indigenous tribes in the lower Omo Valley, the Bena practice ritual dancing and singing and they live in continuous contact with the earth.⠀ In this picture Dobi, that like most natives doesn’t know her age, is standing proudly among the thin stems of her sorghum plantation, a very important crop, used for food and especially for the production of home brewed beer.
Mauro De Bettio is an internationally recognized photographer and storyteller capturing the heart of remote and complex worlds. His work documents acid attack survivors in Bangladesh, Manila’s prisons, life in Afghanistan, the dreams of African slum ballerinas, and Asia’s largest sex worker communities. In 2021, he founded the Malaika Foundation to support food, healthcare, and opportunities for brighter futures, giving voice to the voiceless.
Awards 2025 - Overall Winner Our Nature Photo Awards
2025 - Photographer Of The Year 1839 Awards - Storytelling category
2025 - 1st Prize Winner Istanbul Photo Awards - Single Portrait
2025 - Winner Travel Photographer of the Year: The People’s Choice Award
2024 - Winner Prix de la Photographie Paris
2024 - Winner World Water Day Photo Contest
2023 - Winner Prix de la Photographie Paris
2022 - Overall Winner American Photography Open
2022 - Overall Winner FIIPA
2021 - ND Photographer of the Year
2021 - Winner URBAN Photo Award
2020 - Winner Portrait of Humanity
2020 - Overall Winner AAP
2018 - Winner Malta International Photo Award
2018 - Winner National Geographic Italy
2018 - Winner American Photography Open
2018 - Winner LENSCULTURE Portrait Awards