Photojournal:
A Day in Bamako
While Bamako is, indeed, an experience, you have to get outside of city limits to see the real people. In addition, the hills surrounding Bamako (below) give a great view of the city, the Niger River and some spectacular sunsets.
Our destination: Sebemakouro
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The bush taxi--just a cool name for a minivan--meandered up a narrow, dusty road taking us to a small village at the base of the hill. The taxi is met by a crowd of smiling children, who are obviously excited at the arrival of foreigners. Although it is not a daily occurrence, the children know that foreigners bring with them gifts of candy , clothes, toys, and other treats. The second that first piece of candy appears, the children mob you to get some, not wanting to miss out. It is hard for most Americans to imagine the joy that a simple piece of candy can bring. To a poor child, however, this is one of the few pieces they will get all year.
Mali's Younger Residents
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Got Candy?
click to enlargeThe children joined
us as we climbed up the hill, enjoying the attention we lavished
upon them. Seeing
poor children in tattered clothing is often a source of pity for Americans. However,
we question this attitude after this experience. They are truly
poor, but seem to find contentment in what little they do possess. There
is no question that they would like to improve their lifestyles, but
they seemed to make do. Americans, on the other hand, have
created a society of artificial needs influenced by bombardment of
images of what we don't have.
Thus, many Americans feel they need that big car; they need that extra pair of shoes or article of clothing. Rather than be grateful with what we do have, we convince ourselves that we have been somehow deprived of the things we don't have. This begs the question: who should we pity...them or ourselves?
Real Free Range Animals
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A View from the Summit
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One can't help but imagine that the kings of ancient kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay stood upon this very summit, surveying their vast empires with the belief that they would never fall.
After a short break from the sweltering heat, it was time to move onto the next destination: the Niger River. Our honor guard (the kids), escorted us out of the village, running along the side of the bush taxi as we left. With the day's excitement at an end, they would return to their daily routine.
They're Leaving?
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Wait For Me!
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