Cheka kidogo

Earlier this year, celebrated photographer Rankin briefly turned his back on the glitz and glamour and took his camera to the refugee camps of the war-torn DR Congo.

These portraits – now part of a stunning exhibition on London's South Bank – capture the true personalities of people living in one of the most troubled places on earth. Click on the images to find out more. You can also bid online for limited edition prints.

Tumani (Hope), 38. Tailor
Tumani (Hope), 38. Tailor
"This sewing machine is all I could take with me. It was heavy, difficult to carry, but I couldn't leave it behind. This sewing machine feeds my eight children and me. If someone were to take this from me, they would be taking my life."
Photo: Rankin
Jasmine. Photographer
Jasmine. Photographer
Photo: Rankin
Banza Masamba, 47. Hairdresser
Banza Masamba, 47. Hairdresser
"There are 24 of us in the camp, living in four small huts. The worst moment in my life is right now. We want peace. That's all. Peace so that we can go back home. We want you people to talk to the politicians and ask them to stop this war."
Photo: Rankin
Balume
Balume
Photo: Rankin

Rehema Buera, 52. Restaurant owner
Rehema Buera, 52. Restaurant owner
"I lost my husband and four of my children because of this war. After the attack, there were dead bodies everywhere in my village. I found the dead bodies of my husband and my four eldest children - all shot in the head. That day, 175 people from my village were murdered."
Photo: Rankin
Antoinette, 70. Wife and granny
Antoinette, 70. Wife and Granny
" My husband was a businessman. He is dead. One night those men entered the village. They were assaulting us, shooting people, and setting fire to our homes. My husband was shot. I found his body on the street. I didn't attempt to bury him. I couldn't. I had to run. I want my message to be heard. I want an end to this war."
Photo: Rankin
Fidel
Fidel
Photo: Rankin
Charles Kimanuka, 78. Chef
Charles Kimanuka, 78. Chef
"I've been a chef since 1945. I used to cook for important people. Now it's hard for me - and my six children here - to survive on the limited stocks of food in the camp."
Photo: Rankin
Update from Charles - 7 November

Karo Redi, 14. Single mum
Karo Redi, 14 (with baby Happiness).
Photo: Rankin
Seraphine, 42. Entrepreneur
Seraphine, 42. Entrepreneur
"I came from Rutshuru in Katwiguru. My own husband was killed in front of my eyes. There is still no peace in Rutshuru. Laurent Nkunda (leader of CNDP) is still oppressing us. We lived with the Interahamwe and there was no problem with them. But when Laurent Nkunda came, we started suffering a lot. He shot many people. Many people.
"Please help us get rid of those enemies so that we can go back to home. That is what we want. If you help us with this, really, we can finally heal."
Photo: Rankin
Rehema
Rehema
Photo: Rankin
Naomi Daniela, 45. Mother
Naomi Daniela, 45. Mother (with her son Bienfae)
"My husband's name was Joseph. He was a businessman. One night those men came and grabbed my husband from our house. I tried to stop them. I asked them what they were going to do with him. They pushed me away then one of them stabbed me in my shoulder. I was crying and all my children were crying, I didn't know what to do. I ran to my brother's home for help. My brother and his friends went to look for my husband. They never came back."
Photo: Rankin

Jean Mbehere, 30. Pregnant mother
Jean Mbehere, 30. Pregnant mother
"I am here with my husband and our five children. The sixth is due any day now.
"My uncle was killed in the fields. And my brother was sitting under a tree when he was hit in the head by a bullet.
"All I want is peace, so we can go back to our village. Nothing will remain there. We will have to restart our lives, rebuild our homes, and plant new crops to feed us."
Photo: Rankin
Furaha Vumilia, 65. Basket maker
Furaha Vumilia, 65. Basket maker
"It takes two weeks to make a basket - but it only sells for 260 francs (25p). How can you work for two weeks to make 25p? I fled when the war came. People were throwing bombs into our houses. I was living with my son. He and his wife were killed. I fled with my two grandsons. One is 15 and the other 13. They are orphans now."
Photo: Rankin
Kalimbiro Shamavu, 75. Cobbler
Kalimbiro Shamavu, 75. Cobbler
"It's war. There's no security in our village. We were forced out - my wife and I with our seven children and 12 grandchildren. Many houses were set on fire. Many people were killed.
"I used to make shoes for everyone. I loved my work. I had special tools and thread but I had to leave everything behind when we fled."
Photo: Rankin
Alexis Ruangu, 29. Hunter
Alexis Ruangu, 29. Hunter - from a Pygmy tribe
"I know someone from my village who was castrated by the rebels. This war has scared us a lot - it has really affected us. I can't say if we will ever return home. We are afraid that if we go back we will be killed.
"Pygmies move around the forest. We hunt, and look for honey and potatoes. My family's not used to staying in one place, living among so many people."
Photo: Rankin

Cheka Kidogo is sponsored by The Co-operative Bank, a long term supporter of Oxfam. Money raised from the Oxfam Credit Card, 12.9% APR Typical / Variable, which is kindly provided by The Co-operative Bank, supports our work across the world, including the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Videos

Videos

VideoVideo:
Seraphine's story

VideoVideo:
Naomi's story

VideoVideo:
Behind the scenes

The exhibition

The exhibition

Cheka Kidogo is now on public display in London. Don't miss it!

In the news

In the news

Rankin explains his approach and motivation for this exhibition:

Oxfam in DRC

Oxfam in DRC

More about our work in DR Congo