Originally published on September 19, 2017
Jake asked if I would make a story out of this shoot, and I told him, “Let’s see how it goes.” I didn’t plan on it, I just wanted to take pictures of a fella who stunts on bikes, but these pictures make me want to write something.
Dreams are expensive here; I think I made that clear. But over time, some rebels defy the rules, and often, I get the opportunity to share in the dream of these actual African rebels. Dirt bike? Stunt? What is that, and how are you going to feed off that? You’d better put those aside and go to school.
But you know, sometimes, we don’t just do it to feed. It’s an answer to a higher calling, passion. But the bread still comes anyway.
I heard the story of a young apprentice who used his Yamaha Chappy to learn stunts. It was after Jake told me a story of a stunt biker who placed 2nd at the Africa Bikers Competition in neighboring Togo. He is the same guy I’m taking pictures of on his Yamaha YZ450F; progress.
Allow me to introduce King Bala. Ghana’s number 2 stunt guy, a fella who believes dreams are motivation to our spirit and that working towards them is the physical way of reaching there, believe me, he works hard. Bala defies the rules, oversteps society’s ridicule, and stunts on the status quo.
Bala is in his 9th year of stunting, and I respect him. He is a young icon and worth celebrating. I enjoyed shooting with him. It was daring as well. Plus hey! I had a chance to experience the rush of riding a high-powered dirt bike, and it’s a hell of an experience.
We made these images with passion, and we hope you enjoy them. And the next time you see Bala and his kind on the highway, pull to the side and enjoy their show. These fellas are no menace to society. They are just a bunch of passionate daredevils with an itch to impress.
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