Many faces partially obscured by the indigo turbans of the Tuareg..or smiling from them...the nomadic peoples of the southern Sahara Desert...strong faces...showing resolve, endurance and handsome all...Tuaregs arriving by camel to trade...but also Songhai (descendents of the Songhai Empire who once controlled the gold & salt trade) & Bozo (fishermen of the Niger) also wear turbans of many colours to protect from the unrelenting strong sun...Felani (nomadic herders & traders) in their distinctive dome hats...
We are now in Timbuktu...that mythical location that does exist...and these people bear witness to that...
Timbuktu...overtaken by the Sahara Desert...the city of 333 saints...repository for ancient manuscripts...where 3,000 rifles were burnt in 1996 to mark the end of the Tuareg rebellion in the Place de la Paix "the Flame of Peace"...Timbuktu...La Mysterieuse...
Welcome to Timbuktu...relax & enjoy...
Regards,
Dancing Dave (who rocked through Mali to Timbuktu to dance at the Festival au Desert)
My wife Denise & I like to travel "on paths less travelled" that capture our imagination, inspire my photography & where we mix with locals & remain safe.
Visited Countries Map
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The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in...more info
ITS A SMALL WORLDA man entered our Tuareg encampment at the Festival au Desert..."Excuse me...are you David Hooper?"...blow me over with a feather...its Peter Jensen...a class mate from high school in Sydney over 40 years ago!!!
SWORD DANCERat our Tuareg wedding at the Festival au Desert
MOHAMED & RHISSABrothers and our drivers from Timbuktu to Bamako...A photo of Rhissa is on the back cover of Bradts Mali Travel Guide Edition 3
FELANI TRADER...WE MEET AGAINMet him at Djenne, then Ennde in Dogon Country...then again in Timbuktu..."Are you following us?"
SAMBA TOUREMy favourite muso at the Festival au Desert... hypnotic performer...was the late Ali Farke Toure's support guitarist... met him later in Bamako
TUAREG CHIEFBought the leather & shell pendant from around his neck...does that make me a chief?
Invitation to our Tuareg wedding Thank you for your response.I invite you to follow my site...I am blogging Mali...leading up to our Tuareg wedding at the Festival in the Desert...then Ethiopia ...stunning! I am new to blogging but hooked. I look forward to reading further from your site.
D MJ Binkley
Dave & Merry Jo Binkley
Fantastic photography!
You are very skilled at your art. Fantastic.
From Blog: FACES OF MALI...TIMBUKTU