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By Bridie Byrne

9th March 2010 11:05:28 AM

Homeland ... Angelo Tat Mapial with his photos, which will be displayed at the Wyndham Cultural Centre. 43894

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SUDANESE refugee Angelo Tat Mapial risked his life to return to his homeland after 26 years.

He spent six months last year with the Dinka tribe of Southern Sudan where he snapped hundreds of stunning images showing life in the remote villages.

Angelo captured the traditional customs, people, markets, huts, cooking and the spontaneous outbursts of celebration.

The photos show that despite poverty and civil war, village life goes on. But his return was marred by bloodshed.

He was attacked, held hostage and caught in the middle of gun battles in which scores were killed.

“For a long time the country has been in a civil war, there are a lot of militias,” Angelo said.

“The government is training people because they don’t want Southern Sudan to have its freedom.

“The roads were blocked and there were fights, they shot at me.

“When I finally reached the village they welcomed me.”

Angelo said he would return home again.

He is urging others to join him on the personal journey into Sudan’s “Heart of Darkness”.

The exhibition will be staged at the Wyndham Cultural Centre from 25 March until 3 April.

The official launch is set for 25 March at 7pm.

Signed prints will be on sale to fund a schoolroom in the village of Makuac.

The village has no school or medical facilities, while people starve as a result of the tribal wars.

To preview some of the photos and video footage visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3uBsgbTq8I.

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