June 26 - July 1, 2008
I met some amazing people on this trip. My visits with them were humbling and inspiring. People were warm and friendly even though we could barely communicate (French and Bambara are spoken in Mali), I felt very welcomed by everyone I met with.
This woman, Amara Koné, is a locoal government representative and well-known political figure in Kati. We talked about the issues women politicians face in Kati. 
The woman in the middle is Amara's mother. The building behind us is unfinished because Amara's husband recently died. In Kati, when a husband dies the property goes to the oldest son - if there is no son then the property goes to the husband's brother - and so on until it is under authority of a man, otherwise it goes to the "state". Women in Kati can not own property. The reason Amara kept her home was because she is fairly well-connected in Kati.
This woman is Madame Thoove. She too is a respected political figure and has been in politics for a long time. All the photos of those kids mugging for the camera are her grandchildren.
The woman in the middle is Amara's mother. The building behind us is unfinished because Amara's husband recently died. In Kati, when a husband dies the property goes to the oldest son - if there is no son then the property goes to the husband's brother - and so on until it is under authority of a man, otherwise it goes to the "state". Women in Kati can not own property. The reason Amara kept her home was because she is fairly well-connected in Kati.
This woman is Madame Thoove. She too is a respected political figure and has been in politics for a long time. All the photos of those kids mugging for the camera are her grandchildren.
This young woman was being tutored when we arrived at her home to speak with another female politician. She was wearing a dress of fabric honoring International Women's Day (March 8th), which is a big deal everywhere in the world but America. Lack of education for woman is an obvious problem in many countries I will visit for my job.
This young man manages the local community radio broadcast. The organization I was there with will be using the radio as its main outreach tool to the community. The newspapers are not a reliable way to reach people due to illiteracy. This guy was really cool.
This is my travel companion and co-worker Claire who was 5 months pregnant at the time of our adventure.
This is Bouyé Diallo (left) and Sekou Doumbia. They both work for the organization. Sekou was my main source of transportation and spoke English. Bouyé only spoke French but was super nice and we managed to understand each other quite well.
This is my travel companion and co-worker Claire who was 5 months pregnant at the time of our adventure.
This is Bouyé Diallo (left) and Sekou Doumbia. They both work for the organization. Sekou was my main source of transportation and spoke English. Bouyé only spoke French but was super nice and we managed to understand each other quite well.
This is us leaving the radio station. The woman in yellow, Djingarey Maiga, is the president of the organization. She is a phenomenal woman.
The man on the left works with the organization. He is also a singer in a band called African Son (maybe Sun). In the basement of this restaurant is a night club. They wanted to show it to me so we went down there and they turned on the disco ball and played his band's cd. Everyone was dancing and singing, it was the most fun!
This was during the organization's first introductory workshop. I had to speak to the women (through Sekou). The best part about talking through an interpretor is that you can stop yourself if you are making no sense etc. and still fix it before the group of 30 people hear what you say. Just imagine the stupid shit I could censor if I had that type of delay when talking.
Find the pasty girl!
The man on the left works with the organization. He is also a singer in a band called African Son (maybe Sun). In the basement of this restaurant is a night club. They wanted to show it to me so we went down there and they turned on the disco ball and played his band's cd. Everyone was dancing and singing, it was the most fun!
This was during the organization's first introductory workshop. I had to speak to the women (through Sekou). The best part about talking through an interpretor is that you can stop yourself if you are making no sense etc. and still fix it before the group of 30 people hear what you say. Just imagine the stupid shit I could censor if I had that type of delay when talking.
Find the pasty girl!
1 comment:
And there's a picture of my friend, Kerri. She's wearing the traditional denim pant that is so popular in her country.
Post a Comment