The 107 Year Old Man

He greeted me by grasping hands and bumping right shoulders together twice. I first noticed his fantastic head of hair and his friendly smile.

He is 107 years old.

I had the privilege of photographing this man and several family members at their home in Chebera, Ethiopia.

Our workshop leader, Bryan Peterson, wrote this of him in his book Understanding Street Photography: “In his younger years, this man had served in the Italian army; then he worked as a tailor for forty-two years and a woodworker for the next twenty-two years. Since the age of 84, he has been a farmer, living off the land. He has outlived 4 wives but ‘lives joyfully’ with a number of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. It wasn’t long until I asked the obvious: ‘What advice can you offer that just might allow others to experience a long life?’

Without hesitation, as if it were his daily mantra, he said, ‘Let go of envy. It is poison! A life without envy means better sleep. A life without envy means you can taste your food. A life without envy means you will live in the present. But most of all, a life without envy means you can accept love from others and give love just as freely. In other words, without envy, you will experience freedom of mind, body and spirit, and you can now enjoy life’s daily wonders!’”

He fathered 12 children and currently lives with his grandson’s family. They graciously welcomed us and agreed to have their photos taken. One bright young girl dressed in sunny yellow came home from school because she heard we were coming and wanted to see us.

Their home is a stick and mud construction, brightly painted on the outside, as is common here. The family means are quite modest, and their life simple, but neither circumstance impacts the warm vibe surrounding this man and his remarkable family. It was an honor to meet them.