Tag: Damaro

21
Jul

A solar panel in Damaro (Guinea), February 2023

Solar panels allow us to avoid using firewood. They provide light for the hut and the yard, and also give the children a chance to study. They have replaced the paraffin lamps. The family bought the solar panel to light their homes at the Sanankoroni market. The small panels are easily accessible. The women of the village have found a

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12
Jul

Wells and market gardens (Damaro, Guinea), February 2023

Khadija and Mawa talk about their working conditions in the fields: “There’s nothing, the poverty is there. We can’t survive without growing vegetables, but because of the lack of water, it’s very difficult. If you grow your own vegetables, you can use the market to help your family. When I dug the well, I was able to get water, so

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29
Jun

Plaiting straw for the roofs of huts (Damaro, Guinea), February 2023

This is the preliminary work for roofing the hut. He braids the straw, complaining about the poor quality of the straw: because of the early fires that burn everything, because of the scarcity of water, they are forced to use straw in this state to cover their huts during the rainy season. Real straw has disappeared because of climate change,

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19
Jun

Market gardening in Damaro (Guinea), February 2023

Ibrahima Camara introduces himself. He deplores the fact that young people are currently more interested in mining than farming: he has a labour problem recruiting workers, since everyone is currently working in the mines. The second problem is climate change, which is disrupting his agricultural calendar, since the dry season is now longer than the rainy season, which was not

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2
May

Early fires (Damaro, Guinea), March 2022

One of the causes of the drought is bush fires. As you can see, it’s an early fire. In November, between the rainy season and the dry season, the people of Damaro are allowed to set bush fires to burn only grasses and spare the plants. This policy is put in place as part of the preservation of plants here

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24
Mar

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

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21
Mar

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. 

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20
Mar

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

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20
Mar

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

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20
Mar

An invented script: the nkan (Damaro Guinea), March 2022

Lansiné Camara, a healer in Damaro, invented an alphabet for himself to write Malinké: his writing is called nkan (it is neither the Latin nor the Arabic alphabet, nor nko), and he names the letters one by one in his notebook. The alphabet has 28 letters. He transcribes all the sounds in Maninka.   He writes for example “I am going

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