After the Old City…

18. November 2007 by admin.

Our guided tour ended with numerous visit to local artisans workshops…

The famed ebony trees In the backyard of Bobo’s cultural museum, a couple of artists were working. Jonathan and a batik artist who explained the process of waxing and dying. He had a large order to complete.
A welcome change, these artists didn’t push their wares on us and let us take photos.

A wood sculptor’s outdoor workshop.

A copper sculptor heating up his oven.

He was so sweet to give me one of his creations, for free! I gave him a gift in return for his kindness.

Bobo’s river with their sacred fish that they don’t eat.

Earlier on in the day, our guide told us there would be a “fête des masques” (a mask ceremony). Someone important had passed away in the city and this would be part of their funeral.

For some reason, I was picked out and led to the inner circle of obsevers where I snapped a couple photos while being jostled around. Children were also in the crowd being pushed and crying by adults. I was afraid of them being squashed.
 Being in an excited mob is full of uncertainties and I was a bit scared of what would happen. But I was well protected by this man and his friend who offered me a stool to sit on. Afterwards, they asked for a little gift, which they totally deserved! The “fetisheurs” seemed possessed, dancing around, sommersaulting, etc while a man played the djembe and the crowd cheered them on. A couple of other normal people joined by sommersaulting and dancing too. Another type of “fetisheur” dressed in grass, chased people with a whip. Fortunately, they don’t whip foreigners and only scare people they know. STILL. Near the end of ceremony, when I had safely escaped.

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