Moji Riba - 2008 Associate Laureate

Sang Pema and Dorjee Lham wear traditional clothing of the Monpa tribe. Each of the 26 major tribes of Arunachal Pradesh has its own culture, language and religious practices. Under Riba's direction, Hage Komo films his own father, Hage Bath, collecting bamboo. Riba involves young people in the documentation of their tribes' day-to-day life. Poles with bamboo adornments are erected during the Myoko festival organised in turn by seven Apatani villages - a social practice rooted in a tradition that Riba hopes to keep alive. Jira Mito wears the distinctive attire of the Idu Mishmi tribe. Riba's project encompasses Arunachal Pradesh in all its ethnic diversity. Tongam Wangham dons the traditional attire of his Wancho tribe. Riba makes sure that Arunachal Pradesh's tribal heritage is shown in a fresh, vibrant light. Moji Riba has been working since 1997 to document Arunachal Pradesh's rich cultural heritage. Camera in hand, Moji Riba films traditions across Arunachal Pradesh, such as these colourful prayer flags adorning the gate of the Sela pass at an altitude of 4,200 metres. Surrounded by young monks, Riba captures on film the rituals celebrating the Buddha's birthday at the Galden Namgyal Lhatse monastery. Involving young people is at the heart of his project. Moji Riba (centre) leads a workshop on culture and identity at the Central School of Tawang , making young Arunachalis aware of their tribal heritage. To document a traditional craft, Riba films Rinchin Dawa carving wooden masks that will be used for rituals and stored in monasteries. Nima Chozon, of the Monpa tribe, weaves on a hand loom. Such daily activities are documented in Moji Riba's project. Nyishi women perform a ritual dance in their traditional dress. Thanks to Riba's films, their chants and choreography will be preserved for future generations. Riba teaches Hage Komo the basic camera skills that will allow the young Apatani to film an interview with his father and an animist priest, thus recording his tribe's oral history. An Apatani woman, Landi Rinyo, grows millet on a dry mound in her rice field. Riba will give a young Apatani film-maker the opportunity to record this agricultural technique. Map of Arunachal Pradesh.
Sang Pema and Dorjee Lham wear traditional clothing of the Monpa tribe. Each of the 26 major tribes of Arunachal Pradesh has its own culture, language and religious practices.

©Rolex Awards/Xavier Lecoultre

Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 2008
Sang Pema and Dorjee Lham wear traditional clothing of the Monpa tribe. Each of the 26 major tribes of Arunachal Pradesh has its own culture, language and religious practices.

Under Riba's direction, Hage Komo films his own father, Hage Bath, collecting bamboo. Riba involves young people in the documentation of their tribes' day-to-day life.

©Rolex Awards/Xavier Lecoultre

Hari Village, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 2008
Under Riba's direction, Hage Komo films his own father, Hage Bath, collecting bamboo. Riba involves young people in the documentation of their tribes' day-to-day life.

Poles with bamboo adornments are erected during the Myoko festival organised in turn by seven Apatani villages - a social practice rooted in a tradition that Riba hopes to keep alive.

©Rolex Awards/Xavier Lecoultre

Hari Village, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 2008
Poles with bamboo adornments are erected during the Myoko festival organised in turn by seven Apatani villages - a social practice rooted in a tradition that Riba hopes to keep alive.

Jira Mito wears the distinctive attire of the Idu Mishmi tribe. Riba's project encompasses Arunachal Pradesh in all its ethnic diversity.

©Rolex Awards/Xavier Lecoultre

Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 2008
Jira Mito wears the distinctive attire of the Idu Mishmi tribe. Riba's project encompasses Arunachal Pradesh in all its ethnic diversity.

Tongam Wangham dons the traditional attire of his Wancho tribe. Riba makes sure that Arunachal Pradesh's tribal heritage is shown in a fresh, vibrant light.

©Rolex Awards/Xavier Lecoultre

Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 2008
Tongam Wangham dons the traditional attire of his Wancho tribe. Riba makes sure that Arunachal Pradesh's tribal heritage is shown in a fresh, vibrant light.

Moji Riba has been working since 1997 to document Arunachal Pradesh's rich cultural heritage.

©Rolex Awards/Xavier Lecoultre

Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 2008
Moji Riba has been working since 1997 to document Arunachal Pradesh's rich cultural heritage.

Camera in hand, Moji Riba films traditions across Arunachal Pradesh, such as these colourful prayer flags adorning the gate of the Sela pass at an altitude of 4,200 metres.

©Rolex Awards/Xavier Lecoultre

Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 2008
Camera in hand, Moji Riba films traditions across Arunachal Pradesh, such as these colourful prayer flags adorning the gate of the Sela pass at an altitude of 4,200 metres.

Surrounded by young monks, Riba captures on film the rituals celebrating the Buddha's birthday at the Galden Namgyal Lhatse monastery. Involving young people is at the heart of his project.

©Rolex Awards/Xavier Lecoultre

Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 2008
Surrounded by young monks, Riba captures on film the rituals celebrating the Buddha's birthday at the Galden Namgyal Lhatse monastery. Involving young people is at the heart of his project.

Moji Riba (centre) leads a workshop on culture and identity at the Central School of Tawang , making young Arunachalis aware of their tribal heritage.

©Rolex Awards/Xavier Lecoultre

Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 2008
Moji Riba (centre) leads a workshop on culture and identity at the Central School of Tawang , making young Arunachalis aware of their tribal heritage.

To document a traditional craft, Riba films Rinchin Dawa carving wooden masks that will be used for rituals and stored in monasteries.

©Rolex Awards/Xavier Lecoultre

Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 2008
To document a traditional craft, Riba films Rinchin Dawa carving wooden masks that will be used for rituals and stored in monasteries.

Nima Chozon, of the Monpa tribe, weaves on a hand loom. Such daily activities are documented in Moji Riba's project.

©Rolex Awards/Xavier Lecoultre

Sheryo Village, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 2008
Nima Chozon, of the Monpa tribe, weaves on a hand loom. Such daily activities are documented in Moji Riba's project.

Nyishi women perform a ritual dance in their traditional dress. Thanks to Riba's films, their chants and choreography will be preserved for future generations.

©Rolex Awards/Xavier Lecoultre

Yazali, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 2008
Nyishi women perform a ritual dance in their traditional dress. Thanks to Riba's films, their chants and choreography will be preserved for future generations.

Riba teaches Hage Komo the basic camera skills that will allow the young Apatani to film an interview with his father and an animist priest, thus recording his tribe's oral history.

©Rolex Awards/Xavier Lecoultre

Hari Village, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 2008
Riba teaches Hage Komo the basic camera skills that will allow the young Apatani to film an interview with his father and an animist priest, thus recording his tribe's oral history.

An Apatani woman, Landi Rinyo, grows millet on a dry mound in her rice field. Riba will give a young Apatani film-maker the opportunity to record this agricultural technique.

©Rolex Awards/Xavier Lecoultre

Hari Village, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 2008
An Apatani woman, Landi Rinyo, grows millet on a dry mound in her rice field. Riba will give a young Apatani film-maker the opportunity to record this agricultural technique.

Map of Arunachal Pradesh.

©Thames & Hudson/Rolex Awards


Map of Arunachal Pradesh.