I need your opinion: Do these African tribal photographs work?

For a series of books I'm bringing to life about our ancestors' Songs of the Universe (I once called the project Africa's Undiscovered Myths), I'm trying to create tribal images that look: 1) a little mysterious; 2) like old photos dug up from some just discovered archaeological site; and 3) still have hints of a contemporary look.

Do these images meet the three intents? 
What could we do to improve them?

Please, Honesty counts.

The Bedik tribe village of Iwol is nestled on top of a mountain near Senegal's southeastern town of Kedougou. The Bedik settled in the area from the 11th to the 19th centuries in south east Senegal. The area is marked as a World Heritage Site, as an example of original traits of agro-pastoralism. West Africa, Senegal, Bedik tribe.

As part of their tribal initiation into manhood, these 12 and 13-year-old Bedik boys run all day for one month through their village of Iwol to "learn the secrets of life." Bedik tribe,  Senegal, sub Saharan Africa; West Africa, Africa.

I found fetishes like this one in two different Bedik villages. While the Bedik were reluctant to talk about them, I know this is an object believed to have supernatural powers. This particular site had two fetishes, the small structure and the white-washed figure on the wall of the house.  Bedik tribe,  Senegal, sub Saharan Africa; West Africa, Africa.

A young boy runs towards some thatched huts in the Bedik tribe village of Andyel (Andjel). Bedik tribe, Senegal, West Africa, Africa, sub Saharan Africa

Two boys with containers on their heads walk towards the Bedik tribe village of Andyel (Andjel). Bedik tribe, Senegal, West Africa, Africa, sub Saharan Africa

A young boy walks past giant trees at the edge of the Bedik village of Iwol.   Bedik tribe, Senegal, sub Saharan Africa; West Africa, Africa.

A young boy pounds grain with his mother while the little girl dances in the Bedik village of Iwol. Bedik tribe, Senegal, sub Saharan Africa; West Africa, Africa.

All photographs and text © 2015 Janis Miglavs

www.jmiglavs.com

janis@jmiglavs.com