Sierra Leone: People-to-People |
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Dispatch 10 - Bo | ||
Tiwai Island-BO (90km, 56 miles) Points of interest: Koribundu area was a rebel strong hold during the war Cycling conditions: first 40k are rolling dirt and the last 50k are rolling paved |
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At one stop along the way, a twenty-something man suggested
that we were sufficiently immersed in Sierra Leone that we should all be given Mende names. Fine. One would assume that this would easy
Later in the afternoon drums in the distance beckoned us to a village that was enjoying a traditional cultural program. The dancing figures are suggestive, but quite different from the sacred mask that would come to the village as part of the rituals and role of the traditional society/religion. The sacred mask are much more powerful, can pass judgement on the community and even had the authority of life and death for members of he community. This afternoon's music and dance was purely for entertainment. (Note: the helmet mask in the left side bar is from the Bundu (a.k.a Sandi) Society (women's group) of the traditional religion.) Our visit included front row seats and a photo session with the paramount chief (above). To keep the perspective, the primary economic activity is agriculture. In this area rice and sorghum are the dominate staple crops. Our day ended in Bo, Sierra Leone second principle city. I was last in Bo thirty years ago. Except for the models of vehicles (SUVs for example), the spread of the town and the replacement of Coca-Cola signs for cell phone company advertisements, it is hard to see how the look of the town has changed in thirty years. It is a very functional city. To the best of my knowledge Bo has no public park, museum, preserved historic site or memorial. |
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