Savoirs locaux
Maize seeds in the village of Bouillagui (Mali), May 2021
Maize seed is grown in Bouillagui during the three-month winter season. The seed is chosen for the fastest harvest, which helps families who do not have enough millet. Maize is cultivated in the slightly sandy fields without industrial fertilisers, it is sufficient to use cow dung as a natural fertiliser. Sowing takes place around July, and it is harvested in
Consequences of the lack of wood on blacksmithing (Bouillagui, Mali), May 2021
In Bouillagui the blacksmiths are facing serious problems with charcoal, due to the lack of wood in the forest caused by global warming. The tree they use for forging is different from the others. It is called “djebee” in Soninke. It is a big tree that gives a slightly reddish wood. They have to go to Kayes to buy coal.
Deforestation and collecting wood in Bouillagui (Mali), November 2021
Deforestation in Bouillagui is due to global warming and the cutting of trees during the rainy season. Finding wood for cooking is becoming very difficult in the Bouillagui forest. Women used to go to the fields very early in the morning to cultivate and collect wood in the evening when they returned to cook with it. The situation has prompted
Growing “gros mil” (fêla) in Bouillagui (Mali), May 2021
We are going to tell you about the big millet (called fêla in the Soninké language) which is grown in Bouillagui during the winter. It is a very fast seed, which gives a lot of millet. It is grown a lot, but there are also other millet seeds grown in Bouillagui. This one is fast and can withstand a lack
The roast tree (Bouillagui, Mali), November 2021
In 1914, a tree called roast tree was discovered in Bouillagui by a hunter called Boubou yaguè (“Boubou the honey seeker”). In those days, the forest of Bouillagui had only this tree. There was famine, and it was with the nuts of this tree that our parents fed themselves. The nuts were delicious, but they were also used as a
Lack of water in the lowlands (Damaro, Guinea), March 2022
Tenen Sangare explains that she has two types of difficulties in the lowlands: the cows and the lack of water. The cows are free in this dry season and come to graze in her field. The lack of water too: they suffer a lot. If there is no water in a lowland, the production cannot be good. She can’t afford
The final conference of the Watigueleya Kèlê project in Conakry, 13-14 February 2023
On 13 and 14 February, the final conference of the Watigueleya Kêlè (Climate Resilience in West Africa) project on the theme “Poetics of the environment and resilience of research” started in Conakry, at the CIRD facilities. The conference aimed to bring together villagers involved in the project and researchers, in order to bridge the gap between the academic sphere and
The healer and his medicines (Damaro Guinea), March 2022
Lansiné Camara is a healer in Damaro, displaying the products of his pharmacopoeia. He treats gastritis, internal and external haemorrhoids, and typhoid, which we have managed in hospitals. He also treats liver problems, backache, diabetes, hot feet and blood pressure, rheumatism. It has a product that facilitates childbirth. It also treats sterility. It also combats snake bites, rabies and toothache.
Diarakendou dry pond (Damaro, Guinea), March 2022
Mandiou Camara speaks: “I am stopped in the middle of the pond. Look, there is no more water left in the pond. Otherwise it used to be a big pond. It is also a pond where we grow crops. You see, farming doesn’t work. One day a gentleman asked us to lend him our land. We told him that agriculture
Tomb of a patriarch, Fono Oussou Camara (Damaro, Guinea), March 2022
We are at the tomb of Fono Oussou Camara, the ancestor of the chiefs and ancestors of Damaro, father of Diaraken and Fakassia, Bossoboy and many others. We are at the tomb of the ancestor of all the Damaro people. This is our history. Everyone must know his history. We are at the tomb of Diarakendou. Thank God, this is