Archive for January, 2011Travelling in style in Ségou. These three-wheeler taxis (half motorbike, half pickup truck) are common in parts of Bamako and also in Ségou. It’s a fun way to travel and, unlike the tuk-tuks in Cotonou, can transport around eight people at once. Bit bumpy, but very well ventilated and cheap. Not recommended in torrential rain, though (been there, done that!) Day 1: Finally on the road again by 3:10pm, made it to Mac’s Refuge in Sevaré before dark. Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 As night fell, I witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve EVER seen, over the Niger river: Day 5 Day 6 There you go! Many more photos on my Facebook album of the trip: here. And here’s what some of the Bozo folk songs sounded like: Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. A two-headed ostrich?? It also seems to have three legs! Taken at the Auberge de Dassa in Benin back in 2005. The ostriches have moved a few miles down the road now, but the auberge still serves ostrich meat, as far as I know. You could also buy (empty) ostrich eggs there. Crossing the Old Bridge We only have two bridges in Bamako and this is the smaller, older one. During rush hour, it becomes one way (into town in the mornings and out in the evenings) which helps ease congestion to some extent. However, the Chinese are building a third bridge, almost 2km long, downstream and it should be finished in the next few months. Here are some sites showing the third bridge in various stages of construction: making the pillars, the finished pillars, putting on the horizontals. The Fish Ladies! If you head down to the river in Badala Est, you’ll see these ladies, especially in the late afternoon, selling delicious fish straight from the Niger. Mmmm! One of the most common is known locally as capitaine which (I’ve only just learned) tranlates as Nile Perch in English. It’s seems ages ago, but in September last year (ie 2010), I ran an etthhnomusicology workshop in the remote mountain village of Cankuzo, Burundi. I could tell you more about it, but instead here’s a link to a page which does just that: Rob’s Burundi Workshop article Also, as a picture paints 1,000 words, you can also see some photos of The Royal Drummers of Burundi I worked with here and other Burundi photos (including the workshop) here. Just thought I’d share that with you! Happy New Year! |