Ugandan stone-quarry workers and market vendors form the economic backbone of northern Gulu, where women shoulder nearly all manual labor while grappling with the generational trauma of civil conflict, according to documenting photographer Dan Nelken and collaborating author Beatrice Lamwaka. Through community-led visual projects and oral histories, researchers and artists are capturing how these women sustain families independently—often mining gravel or running small businesses despite extreme economic hardship.
Documenting Female Labor in Northern Uganda
Photographer Dan Nelken initiated the HeadStrong project after visiting Gulu in 2017, where he initially observed vendors selling used clothes and firewood in the town’s main market. According to Nelken, local teachers suggested offering modest model fees to approach subjects for portraits. Student assistant Emmanuel (Emma) helped secure consent from market vendors before Nelken refined his technique during a subsequent return trip. Realizing that distracting backgrounds weakened the portraits, Nelken introduced mosquito-netting as a symbolic backdrop representing malaria—one of Uganda’s most pressing public health challenges—while helping the subjects stand out from their working environments.
Did you know? The oldest woman photographed at the Gulu quarry was 74 years old, and another worker had lost an eye as a result of quarry labor, according to documentation by Dan Nelken.
Economic Realities at the Gulu Quarry
Following Emma’s recommendation, Nelken visited a stone quarry located roughly 10 miles outside Gulu, where women break rocks into gravel all day and receive payment based on the number of jerrycans they fill. Many workers bring small babies or children to the site while dressing in market attire, occasionally wearing jewelry despite the grueling physical demands. According to Nelken, each woman selected her own pose to maintain full control over her representation. Economic necessity forces many into this labor early; participant Jovia started working at the quarry on weekends at age 10 to help pay school fees with the goal of becoming a doctor.
Oral Histories and Personal Narratives
To capture the broader economic spectrum and personal histories of these workers, Nelken collaborated with Ugandan author Beatrice Lamwaka, who interviewed participants about their circumstances, daily challenges, and aspirations for their children. According to Lamwaka’s interviews, several narratives reflected the ongoing trauma of the civil war in northern Uganda. Participant Janet, photographed after 10 years at the quarry, supported eight children alone after her husband lost a leg in a boda boda motorcycle-taxi accident. “I am now the husband in this home,” Janet stated, according to Lamwaka’s documentation, “and I have to do whatever I can to keep this house standing.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HeadStrong project in Uganda?
HeadStrong is a documentary photography and oral history project by Dan Nelken and Beatrice Lamwaka that captures portraits and personal narratives of 116 women working in markets and stone quarries in Gulu, Uganda.
Why was mosquito-netting used in the portraits?
According to photographer Dan Nelken, mosquito-netting served as a backdrop that separated workers from distracting background environments while symbolizing malaria, a major health issue in Uganda.
How do women at the Gulu quarry earn a living?
Workers at the quarry break large rocks into gravel all day by hand and are compensated based on the volume of jerrycans they manage to fill.
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