Blogs from Bankass, Dogon Country, Mali, Africa

The “bus” to Koro wasn’t exactly what we were expecting. It was more of… I wouldn’t even know what to compare it to because we don’t have anything like it in the US. It’s a little bigger than a short school bus, and the seats are very similar, but go all the way across so they fit like 5 or 6 people in each row. And of course no AC. I was sitting next to an older woman and he husband and she didn’t know and English and I don’t know any French, so we had a very exciting conversation with a lot of pantomime. It’s a good thing I was always good at charades. Unfortunately she didn’t like all the dust from the road if I left the window open, and I didn’t like how ... read more

I didn't go to Timbuktu! Everyone I spoke to said it was disappointing and it is a very long journey to get to from Mopti. Although the journey itself is the highlight. Instead I chose to go to Bankass, which is one of the bridgehead towns for the Dogon county. It was on my way towards the Burkino Faso border, and I thought that a Dogon Cultural Festival was more important and interesting than having a Timbucktoo stamp in my passport! This festival was the first ever Dogon Cultural Festival - it was a celebration of Dogon Culture for the Dogon people. I think there may be plans to make it an annual event, to celebrate and preserve the culture. Timbuktu was a very important and wealthy trading city centuries ago - but these days you ... read more