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Africa: North to South, Part 2

Africa: North to South, Part 2: Mali and Niger

Simon and Jennifer
2006-04-26 10:19:47

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stunning, but the sun was hot and it was dry and dusty as we made our way along the corrugations, sometimes at no more than 10 miles an hour. This was going to be a long journey! So it was not too difficult for Madam Segar to persuade us to stop for a drink at one of the towns on the route down. We had stopped at a checkpoint, where the official was friendly and demanded no gifts, when a large lady came puffing up from behind to invite us to her cafe. The price seemed fair, so we turned back, and soon got caught up in the atmosphere. Madam Segar it seemed had other intentions apart from selling the odd drink and a meal "Do you have something for me to buy?" she was eager to know. Not long later, we came to an agreement to swap a warm jumper (which we hoped was now surplus to requirements) and a pair of very worn shoes for our drinks, meal and accommodation. The look of delight on the face of Madam Segar when she saw the jumper would have been payment enough, the pleasure in giving is heightened when those who are receiving do not have all they could ever wish for available at the local shops!

Simon was soon led away for a tour of the village, hand in hand as is the way in Africa with the village mechanic who was the husband of Madam Segar, or was it her brother, it was a bit confusing and appeared to depend on who you asked, while I watched our chicken supper being plucked. An hour or so later, the mechanic was back waving excitedly to me to follow him. Wondering what on earth had happened to Simon I followed, and found that I seemed to be among a crown of men, all heading in he same direction, what was going on? Ah but of course, the football! Mali was doing well in the African Cup, and what was round the corner of this remote village, but generator and HUGE satellite dish, which Simon had helped fix (by rotating it to point towards the capital), so now the village could see the second half of the game, crowded round the small TV in the open ...