This year’s Manda Festivali (Water Buffalo Festival) was hosted in Ağaçlı village in the outskirts of Istanbul on 1 June 2024. Started as a Cooking Sections commission for the Istanbul Biennial in 2022, the Manda Festivali is an annual festival celebrating the presence and permanence of pastoralist practices in the city's wetlands. This year's third edition was organised as part of CLIMAVORE x Jameel at RCA in collaboration with İKSV, Eyüpsultan Municipality, Ek Biç Ye İç and Anadolu Meraları. Bringing together local herders, musicians, environmentalists, artists, biologists, cheese makers and the general public, attendants joined metabolic walks, music performances, workshops, the first ever herder and buffalo portrait competition, and public tasting of buffalo milk products.

Building on the tradition of competitions in agricultural festivals, the 2024 Manda Festivali hosted a herder and buffalo portrait competition with a jury and award ceremony, offering the public the chance to vote on their favourite duo. Captured by photographer Deniz Sabuncu, the portraits worked both as a visual campaign celebrating multispecies residents and alliances, as well as the wider ecosystem of the villages around Istanbul's wetlands. The jury was formed by Ercan Taşdelen (President, Herders’ Association), Prof. Dr. İhsan Soysal, and Suzi (Managing Founder, Suzini Yeri).

The recipient of the Public Award went to herder Cengiz Akın, the Best Duo Award went to Cihan Şimşek, the Buffalo Charm went to Miray Yoldaş and the Advocacy Award to Ömer Satıcı. Specially made buffalo bells went to all participants. Congratulations to all! Stay tuned for the 2025 festival edition, the next opportunity to come together and cherish postindustrial wetlands, herders, buffalos and their companions. We look forward to hosting you!