‘We are making palm oil,’ Christian says, ‘would you like to see?’ He leads me through a landscape of palm, elephant grass, and smoky patches of last week’s slash and burn. Young girls from the village, Beautiful faces, giggles, hands waving like flags. You snap me! You snap me! Christian points to a tree that […]
sumbuya
New Used Shoes
Today I took Maserai, Lucia and Mamie shopping. The second hand shoe seller was in town. I got permission from the principal to take the girls out of school and off we went. I could tell it was a Big Day for the girls when they insisted on changing out of their school uniforms and […]
Home to Sumbuya
When we rolled into Sumbuya, Maserai came running. Her hug was warm and we were soon joined by Lucia and Mamie. The girls wear rags and I’m reminded that their best clothes are their school uniforms. Everyone crowds into the parlour as I hand out cloth for new lappas and my big surprise–framed photos from […]
Through the North
Back. On this trip I’ll first go to Kabala in the north. Kenawa has been hard to contact and I learned that he’s been seriously ill. With regrets, we promise to meet up on my return through Freetown. I arrange a jeep and driver through a Lebanese friend—not Kenawa, but I’m ready to be a […]
Sumbuya days
I awaken to the muezzin’s call to prayers—still dark, 6 am. I hear the sound of chopping wood, voices around the cooking fire. I am staying with Madame Yeamah, the aunt of my friend Jose Tenga. Madame Yeamah is the mammy queen, the most powerful woman in Sumbuya. I am drawn to the three girls […]
Old Town Welcome
Sumbuya is divided into 4 sections, each with a chief. Today I visited the Old Town section—it was a day I’ll never forget. The Old Town chief is the youngest I’ve met—maybe mid forties–good looking guy with very pretty wives. I asked if I could take some photos of the chief and the kids. I […]