Cycling through Mali

Eric and Amaya are cycling through Africa and have reached Mali and Niger. The Sahel region has been a tough ride for the couple. Eric’s health suffered and he was forced to seek treatment in an open air clinic, but luckily the IV did the trick and he was able to cycle on. Being vegetarians has also meant some slim pickings beyond rice and beans for dinner every night. But despite 22 punctures and cycling against the sand filled winds that blow this time of year (harmattan), they still managed to appreciate the beautiful mud architecture the region is famous for as well as the interesting and friendly people.

cycling-through-mali

At dawn, farmers and merchants from far-off villages arrived via the river in wooden pirogues and starting spreading out their wares on the central square. The melange of different ethnic groups, Moors in their flowing robes, Peul with their pointy hats and the nomadic Tuareg on their camels meant people watching was top on the list of activities.

The villagers greeted us enthusiastically and one day we were amazed to see a group of some 15 boys, all clad in blue loincloth, wielding a stick and covered in a layer of dust, rush out to greet us. They had recently undergone a circumcision ceremony and were in the care of a marabout (holy man). The sticks and layer of earth were to ward off evil spirits who might attack the boys.

After an early morning pirogue trip to see the hippos upstream, we wandered around the stalls and checked out the bustling livestock market which was doing a brisk business thanks to the upcoming Tabaski (New Years) celebrations. Well-to-do families are meant to slaughter a ram and share it with those less fortunate. Mini-buses were being loaded up with the animals strapped on the roof for transport back to surrounding towns and villages.

For Amaya and Eric’s full account see their website and you can also donate to the charity they’re doing it all for.

source: http://goafrica.about.com/b/2007/01/03/cycling-through-africa-niger-and-mali.htm

Tags: cycling against the sand, Cycling through Mali

This entry was posted on Monday, March 9th, 2009 at 11:51 pm and is filed under Mali. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.