Travellingman reisverhalen - - Segou
Day 4: 2 februari 2006
Segou

After a refreshing shower we found out they brought some chairs, a table and breakfast (bread, butter and coffee/ tea). We were surprised, but enjoyed this gesture. During breakfast we got a visit from a local boy who wanted us to donate some money for the school football team. They wanted to buy shirts and a ball to exercise. Our French was not real good and the boy did not speak English, so the conversation was not fluently, but we learned something of the problems of the youth. After the boy left, we waited for the bus to pick us up. The driver was far too late and to our (and Momo's) surprise we got another breakfast in the Savanne hotel. The program of this day seems not to be possible. A few of us wanted to go to the forum about the shrinking of the river Niger and the consequents for the multiple use of this river. This forum started at 10 am, but due all time lost, it was already pass 10 am. Momo decided to make his own program for us. We were dropped off at the festival area so we could explore the area.

Together with my travel mates Lara and Aleen I walked along the river Niger. Local people use the river to wash their clothes, dishes and themselves. Also the banks were used to grow vegetables and fruits. Further on we passed a market for pottery. These are made in a village on the other side of the river. Everything was relaxed and we were not annoyed by people that wanted to sell us something. We also passed a building where they want to establish a Bogalan center. Children kindly greeted us. Returning to the festival area, we visited the market where Malian people sold their products (mostly clothes and jewels).

We had lunch in a local restaurant. We had Moroccan Couscous. After relaxing for a while we were brought to a Bogalan workshop, a little bit outside Segou.

At the workshop we got the opportunity to make our Bogalan, which is not easy. Bogalan is the art of painting clothes with natural products. We also got a small tour through the factory. We saw the pots in which the dyes are stored, the area from where they got the mud/ clay and the people who patiently where painting the material. Afterwards we bought some of the products for a factory outlet price.

After this workshop we were dropped at the festival area. Momo tried to arrange a boat trip for us, but this was not so easy. After a lot of bargaining we left after an hour to sail along the banks of Niger, to see all kinds of activities of the locals, like cleaning clothes etc, watering animals and transport of goods by boat.

After the boat trip, just around the sunset, we were brought back to our villa. We refreshed quickly and were picked up at 8 am, which was half an hour later as we agreed on. Welcome to the African time! (always late) We had dinner at the temporary restaurant at the festival area. We expected fish, but there was no fish, so we got beef kebab. It tasted good. It was really quit, till a lot musician (including Malian most famous singer and guitarist Habib Koité) and technicians invaded the restaurant. After a while we left to our villa again where we relaxed a little bit more and I listened to some music. Around 0.30 am I went to sleep to end this chaotic, but still interesting day.

Initial publication: 26 maart 2006
Last update: 25 mei 2008
© A. Heeroma

  • Travel route

Mali - Ghana 2006 tour
»Day 1 Amsterdam - Bamako
»Day 2 Bamako
»Day 3 Bamako - Segou
»Day 4 Segou
»Day 5 Segou
»Day 6 Segou
»Day 7 Segou
»Day 8 Segou - Djenné
»Day 9 Djenné - Mopti
»Day 10 Mopti - Dogon (Banani)
»Day 11 Dogon (Banani - Tirelli)
»Day 12 Dogon - Bandiagara
»Day 13 Bandiagara - Teriyabougou
»Day 14 Teriyabougou - Bamako
»Day 15 Bamako - Siby
»Day 16 Siby - Bamako

Goto next trip Ghana tour

  • Overige info

  • Mali
    »Bamako
    »Bogalan
    »Djenné
    »Dogon
    »Festival on the Niger
    »Kalabougou
    »Mopti
    »Segou
    »Siby
    »Teriyabougou
    »Road Bamako-Segou







    Click photo to enlarge