Mes Photos du Bénin:

 Below-  Click on the Thumbnail for a larger image.                                                 

     Aurianne- Camera shy neighbor seeking refuge in her mother

   - Bush rat sellers.  Allada is affectionately known as the "Bush Rat Butt Capitol of Benin" by many Peace Corps Volunteers.  The most important north-south road runs through the middle of Allada and taxis stop to let passengers off and pick up new ones.  When the taxis stop, these women sell to the passengers.  It's "interesting" sitting in a taxi and having a plate full of rat butt stuck under your nose.  I tried it.  It's not bad and tastes a bit like pork.  I did not eat anything that was anatomically identifiable such as the head, and the butt (the most sought after part).  The really gross part is that they burn off the fur and sometimes your rat butt will be a little hairy.  This gives new meaning to the saying, "I don't give a ratt's ass." 

    The Allada Market on Market Day.

        "Camel and his Owner" in Niamé Niger taken during one of my vacations.

     Senawabolodo- the Farming cooperative I worked with in the village of  Soyo.  This was during a big party they threw for me before I left to go back to the US at the end of my two year service. 

   Me in front of the Zangbeto (People of the Night) dancers at the above party.  Zangbeto are dancing hey stacks or dancing houses that are inhabited by spirits who have come back from the dead to run witches and thieves out of the village.  The usually come out at night but do appear during the day from time to time to appear at public gatherings.

  Me With Members of Senawabolodo Cooperative.

    "African Snow"-  One of Benin's cash crops is Cotton.  This pile was waiting to be picked up and taken to the factory for processing.  Cotton grows in central and northern Benin where the climate is dryer.

      "Baby on Board"- This how mothers get work done and have small children at the same time.  The babies seem to like it and the women can go about their daily chores.  Women walk miles to the market with goods on their heads and a baby on their backs.  Beninese women are strong!    

     Women Going to the Market-  As stated above, women walk many miles to go from their remote villages to regional markets like Allada's market with heavy loads of goods on their heads to sell and babies on their backs.

    Cloth Seller in the Lokossa Market.  There are very few ready made clothes in Benin for sale.  If you want clothes, you must first buy the fabric (for the equivalent of $2-10) and have a tailor or seamstress sew you what you want (another $2-10).  

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