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A small castle-like remnant from colonial days near the market in
Sikasso, third region, this structure sits on a hill which entombs
an ancient king of the region. The site is known as the Mamalon,
the knot that ties up Sikasso, and holds it together. |
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Looking towards a main intersection in Bandiagara, fifth region. Typical of
homes in town, the mud-brick walls show the effects of the rainy season
(May-October) which can cause roofs to collapse, inter-village roads to
become impassable to motor vehicles and creates the ideal environment for the
malaria-carrying anopheles mosquito. |
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Looking out the window into Bou Traoré's yard in Kéniégoué, first
region. The thatched-roof building is the granary, where Bou's
family's rice and millet are stored. His large yard serves, as do
all such yards in Mali, as a kitchen, laundry, chicken coop, sheep
fold and family room. |
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Bandiagara. At a main crossroads in town, a man dressed for Friday mosque
passes the one-time residence of a regional prince, El Hadj Oumar Tall,
Gogo's father's father's father. |
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Bandiagara. Madani's doorway (after renovations) at one end of our
concession, and the wall between it and an alley-way. A camera out in
public always captures kids. |
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Dogon Plateau. Sunset returning from Nombori to Dourou. |
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Dourou. The third onion crop of 1994-95 in the fields near the
village. The Dogon plateau exports onions all over Mali and elsewhere
in West Africa. In Sikasso, Mali's produce capital, where I bought
sweet oranges for a cent each. |
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Dourou. Sooliman Koulibaly, a Bambara man who teaches French to
elementary Dogon children, stands in a rock-water-greenery oasis
between the village and the onion fields. |
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Bandiagara. Facing the Italian-run Roman Catholic mission, which is a
centre for ministry and education. Also home to the Sisters who had the
malaria treatment that probably saved my life. |
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Dogon Plateau, from Dourou towards Gimini. I made this walk with
four Gimini elders. They spoke a little Peulh, but they discussed
village business and I looked at the scenery. |
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Bandiagara Escarpment. I make my way back to Dourou from Nombori
with a group of friends, mostly teachers from the surrounding villages.
From atop the escarpment they will head back to their own villages. |
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At Mopti, the Niger and Bani Rivers meet. The river nomad Bozo
people fish from their long canoes, migrating with the schools. |
Places 2