FACES OF MALI...THE MEN

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FACES OF MALI...THE MEN

"The most handsome peoples in the World...genetically... come from that strip across Africa between latitude 10 degrees North & latitude 20 degrees North...and the best proportioned people in the World are actually the Dogon people in Mali"... considering the eminence of my advisor...interesting claims indeed!!!

We are on a plane from Addis Ababa to Bamako...on my LHS on the aisle is a Senegalese man in a business suit reading a book about "The Consequences of the World Financial Crisis on World Economies"..."rivetting reading" I thought...so I had to ask...

He was an economist advising African Governments and economic commitees...the book...a somewhat critical issue in Africa at the time...

So we chatted about all sorts of critical African issues...what countries were doing well...those that were not...why had I seen so much lack of infrastructure in my travals in Africa...powerlines running over village after village...but no line dropping into or connecting them to the power grid...and somehow we got onto the subject of handsomeness and body proportion...

As we chattered many passengers...all men... would come by and acknowledge my companion...and sometimes me...up to five at a time would come and chat to him...in French...and as we were near the front of Economy Class...near the toilets... the aisle around us was busy!

I asked him how he knew these people...some appeared to be close friends or associates...but he knew none of them...!

Thus I was introduced to the friendliness of West Africans...a noticeable attitude in Mali.

As we danced through Mali...us four Aussies often commenting on the beautiful faces...men...and women... everywhere...in the markets...the streets...villages...the sahel...falaise...the desert...as we wandered through the Grande Marche in Bamako, one of West Africa's busiest markets...."I have never seen so many handsome faces in one place"...and..."How come so many of them have perfect teeth?...!"

Loved the country, loved the culture, loved the people...Bambara, Felani, Dogon, Bozo, Bobo, Songhai & Tuareg...loved their faces...the Men...handsome all...

So...is my airplane companion correct in his assessment of genetic handsomeness?...let the photos do the talking...you be the judge...he's got a point...hasn't he ?

Relax & Enjoy,

Dancing Dave (who danced from Bamako to Timbuktu...and back again..!)

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Photos

HAMMA
Our guide from Bamako to Timbuktu

THE EYE OF THE DOGON
Ennde

KEEPER OF ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS
Timbuktu

AMRIKOU...SUNNIES ON...
Dogon in Bamako

SUNNIES OFF...
See him next in Timbuktu...so I invite him to our wedding...

TRAVELLED 400Kms TO BE HERE
Sold me two silver Tuareg crosses for a secret price in my tent at Festival au Desert

EMILE
Plays djembe with Souleymane Sidibe

CA VA
to Timbuktu

Comments

[The Travel Camel]

So many engaging portraits on this blog - thanks for posting them all!

[D MJ Binkley]

Magnificent blog.
Loved the airplane story. Dave and I travel because we love to meet new people and love to hear their stories. One must only listen to hear of their rich lives and experiences. As your pictures have proven....the faces of Mali are beautiful.