# African Tree Tapping Photographs This Series Captures Nambian Men Scaling Trees for Palm Wine Sap By Erica Francis | Published 2016-08-10 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/palm-wine References: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/art/design-indaba-photographer-kyle-weeks-palm-wine-collectors-08-09-2016/) & [kyleweeksphoto](http://www.kyleweeksphoto.com/) Cape Town-based photographer Kyle Weeks' 'Palm Wine Collectors' series is a beautiful [visual documentary](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/still-life-1) of a historical practice in Namibia. Set in the Kunene Region, the images are crisp with a slightly muted tone that mimics a painting. The shots capture Namibian men as they climb up to the top of palm trees to tap on the trunk to collect a milky substance that creates the wine. The tappers documented all descend from the Himba tribe, a culture that sees palm wine collecting as a traditional part of life. The practice is rather dangerous due to the heights the men scale in order to access the sap -- palm wine collecting in this manner is actually illegal in Namibia. Kyle Week sheds light on African cultures through his work in a captivating way that would appeal to all nomads and worldly consumers. Photo Credits: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/art/design-indaba-photographer-kyle-weeks-palm-wine-collectors-08-09-2016/), [kyleweeksphoto](http://www.kyleweeksphoto.com/) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.7/10 - Popularity: 7% | Activity: 7% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen X - Top markets: Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Media](https://www.trendhunter.com/media) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Cultural Preservation:** The practice of tapping trees for palm wine in Namibia presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for industries concerned with cultural preservation. - **Sustainable Extraction:** Sustainable extraction and usage of tree sap presents opportunities for innovation in the food and beverage industry. - **Photographic Documentation:** The trend towards using photography to document unique cultural practices could disrupt the way travel and adventure industries sell and market their products. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Food and Beverage:** The palm wine extraction process presents opportunities for businesses in the food and beverage industry to create new and unique products. - **Travel and Adventure:** Documenting cultural practices through photography presents opportunities for the travel and adventure industry to create unique experiences for their consumers. - **Art and Photography:** The emerging trend of using photography as a medium for cultural documentation presents opportunities for growth in the art and photography industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Coconut Tree-Made Tall Cabinets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jean-servais-somian.md) - [Pixelated Photographed Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/southern-trees.md) - [Tree-Based Material Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/abney-effect.md) - [Tree Sap-Binding Timber Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/salvage-and-sap.md) - [African Culture-Honoring Chair Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kundung-pembe.md) - [Repurposed Wooden Vessels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/darren-appiagyei.md) - [Ancestral Pattern Woodcraft](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lost-cloth-project.md) - [Tree Bark Beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bayjoo.md) - [Cross-Continental Beer Brewing Documentaries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beer-is-art-campaign.md)