Malinke village

Drissa's sister

Drissa & granddaughter

I went with my drum teacher Drissa to his village. It has around 2,000 people.

It is near the Guinea border and is the farthest Malinke village east (into Mali). It is near the convergence of two rivers--the Niger and the Sankarani. They have hippos there and I really wanted to see them, but I guess it's hard at this time of year and dangerous due to the convergence of the currents in the water there.

Drissa's family and the village were so welcoming! I felt right at home. 

Playing a homemade instrument
~something like a mini kora

Lunch~fresh fish from the river

I stayed in a mud brick room and slept on a straw filled mat. 

When I first saw the 3-4 inch diameter spiders that were abundant in the room, I panicked and jumped into my mosquito tent! Drissa kindly had a boy come and collect them. They didn't seem afraid of the spiders, so I decided they must be docile.

500 year old baobab tree that presides over the village

A woman fishing in the Sankarani River

I was able to donate some of the medical supplies I brought from friends back home to this village. It is needed and appreciated! 

I met with the village elders/counselors and the chief. I was a little bit intimidated because it seemed so formal. The meeting was arranged by the chief's advisor and each time I spoke or the chief spoke, the words are repeated/passed on from junior to senior advisor multiple times until they reached the chief or back to me. 

But they had that wonderful sense of humor that I have come to know. 

One senior advisor in particular was cracking jokes. All of them got a kick out of it when he said something funny and then they saw my reaction as it was translated and I finally understood! Then we all laughed together again.

The other village I donated supplies to was about a 2 mile hike from this one, over the start of the mountains. This village has about 200 people and is quite poor. 

This chief is also about 80 years old and blind. 

I heard "cosobe"  or "so much" over and over as the chief and his counselor expressed gratitude. I felt honored when I heard them clarify that I am from "Ameriki". Both chiefs gave many blessings upon me and to the friends and families who gave these gifts.