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Background: 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 1991 with a transitional government and in 1992 when Mali's first democratic presidential election was held. After his reelection in 1997, President Alpha KONARE continued to push through political and economic reforms and to fight corruption. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou TOURE.

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By Stuart
February 28th 2005

Djenne and the Dogon Festival at Bankass Africa » Mali » Dogon Country » Bankass

Djenne

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 [View Full Entry]

By Stuart
February 20th 2005

Pays Dogon Africa » Mali » Dogon Country

Pays Dogon

Some places are tourist honey pots for a good reason. The Dogon country is one of Mali's tourist honey pots. It deserves its status. The villages of the Dogon people are clustered around picture postcard scenery - a remote escarpment that was easy to defend from rivals. The Dogon people also have a unique culture. It's a must see destination best done by walking from village to village. This means you must be prepared to do without electricity, to use bucket showers and squat toilets, and sleep on the roofs of houses with only the stars and the moon for illumination. [View Full Entry]

By Stuart
February 13th 2005

Bamako and malaria Africa » Mali » District of Bamako » Bamako

Bamako

I've been taking it very easy for a few days, in fact I spent several days in bed! The morning after I arrived in Bamako I fell ill, with Malaria. That is despite the prophylaxis I have been taking. Malaria can never be taken lightly - it kills one million children in Africa every year. I arrived in Bamako on the evening of Tuesday 8th of February. At that point I felt fine. When I got up on the Wednesday morning I didn't feel rested. I also had loose bowel movements and felt nauseous. I went into town to find the [View Full Entry]

By NKOverland
January 5th 2005

Mali to Burkino Faso Africa » Mali

Ouagga

After my 3 day trek in Dogon Country I returned to Bandiagra on Tues 21 Dec to find Neil waiting for me at a campsite just outside of town at Hotel Toguna. Unfortunately his trip had been cut short on day 1 - he'd got stuck in a swamp, used the Diff Lock Gear to get himself out, but then been unable to take it off afterwards. He'd decided to abort his trip, anxious about the possibility of causing lasting damage to the gearbox. That night, as we swapped stories of our separate adventures, we were surprised to find the campsite [View Full Entry]

By NKOverland
January 4th 2005

Dogon Country Africa » Mali

Dogon Country

After the hassle of Bamoko we headed east to Severe, Mopti and Dogon Country. We'd both decided to do our own thing for a couple of days - Neil wanted to go off-roading with the Landrover in swampland, maybe even get to Timbuktu & I wanted to spend some days trekking in Dogon Country. So, with Mac's Refuge at Severe as our base we set off on our trips. That was after I'd spent a whole hour changing travellers cheques at a bank - I'm still at a loss as to how it took that long but that long it did [View Full Entry]

By NKOverland
December 16th 2004

Kidira Border Crossing into Mali Africa » Mali

Washing the car at Kayes!

We eventually made it to Kidira last Friday - 10th December and what a contrast the border crossing was - we had to hunt out all the officials & one of them even let us film him stamping the vehicle carnet! But, it all turned out to be too good to to be true...we arrived in Kayes & promptly got stopped by the Police who were not nice at all...they were very upset with the dodgy insurance we'd bought at Rosso in Senegal. After 1 1/2 hours of debate, we finally acknowledged that our Senegal insurance for the whole of West [View Full Entry]

By scott41679
July 16th 2004

Is This Development? Africa » Mali » District of Bamako » Bamako

The rainy season seems to have begun in earnest. The rain still falls mostly at night, but it’s power and fury are like nothing I have seen before. Here, one is never surprised by the onset of a storm. Piercing cracks of thunder and seemingly interminable lightning strikes (a fireworks displays that many would be proud to emulate) slowly, inexorably wage successful battle against the fierce unforgiving sun. The sky becomes dark gray, a few shades this side of ebony, and the winds start to howl and swirl ferociously, and finally, almost anti-climactically, the torrential downpour begin [View Full Entry]

By scott41679
July 11th 2004

Funeral for a Chief Africa » Mali » District of Bamako » Bamako

One of the neat things about living in various places and not just passing through is being able to observe and sometimes participate as the local people celebrate or commemorate the principal stages of the life cycle: birth, coming-of-age, marriage and death. In Japan I was privileged to attend a wedding of a fellow teacher, and although the Western influence on the dress and ceremony was strong, the Japanese setting created an atmosphere that hinted of ancient rites and customs, unique to their culture. Similarly, at a coming-of-age ceremony which celebrated entrance into adulthood at age [View Full Entry]

By scott41679
June 28th 2004

Life on the Savannah Africa » Mali » District of Bamako » Bamako

I am currently in Bamako, the capital of Mali, as I > write this, my town, Ouelessebougou, not being > sufficiently advanced to have access to the internet. > Bamako is a vibrant, bustling city of more than a > million, but it is very much a local place with > sidewalks filled with street vendors. There is no 5 > star hotel per se, but of course there are some > luxurious accomodations and fancy western restaurants > for the occasional foreigner who stumbles into this > city. The national museum is pretty impressive, but > unfortunately Ma [View Full Entry]

By twotravelbugs
December 28th 2002

Christmas in Mali Africa » Mali » Dogon Country

The Big Escarpment, Dogon Country

Thanks for all your messages, sorry that the weather in the UK is not good, its really hot and sunny here! We are of course still having a brilliant time. Christmas day we spent in a campsite near the small town of Bandiagara in Dogon Country (50 people and one toilet!!) We did a huge cooked breakfast without the meat, a light lunch then a massive dinner. We'd bought a pig and a goat that the campsite slaughtered and cooked for us (and upset people by bringing in the live goat on the back of a moped, draggin it “screaming” round [View Full Entry]

Looking over the escarpment to the Dogon village of Banani

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