The first time this child saw a white man

Take It is a tiny island, inhabited by a small population nucleus that, as an almost perfect navel, rises in the center of a lagoon. It is difficult to get there in a dry season and it is practically impossible to do so in the rainy period. I have been lucky enough to visit the place on a couple of occasions. And, in both, I have been fortunate to be very well received by its inhabitants. Humble and workers. I have photographed the village - always accompanied by a swarm of children - and I have sat down with the men and women of the place. We have talked about your needs and your expectations. And of his great dream of being able, one day, a school. On my last visit a formidable event happened to me: I lived the experience of being looked at, very carefully, by a child who had never seen a white man. He stopped playing with his father's fishing network, was completely still and looked at me, between surprised and terrified. Almost as surprised as he, and anticipating his possible reaction, I was right to take this photograph. Just before he turned his head and shouted, he claimed the presence of his mother. That appeared to the point. And, between laughs and caresses, he took him in his arms and comforted him.   Pepe Navarro, Burkina Faso