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on Lynn Sellwood (The Gambia), 16/Sep/2010 20:14, 34 days ago
Progress: Art and Ironing.Ironing Gambian StylieKeeping it hotProgress indeed. What about this for environmentally friendly, energy efficient ironing? Awa is ironing in her favourite spot under the tree using this iron which is filled with hot charcoals. The finish is excellent and true to my liberal principles I didn’t know whether to be appalled or impressed.Handy Hot CharcoalThis is pretty much my constant state of mind at the moment. I keep having shifting conversations about things which were once absolute no-no’s; my moral compass told me that poverty is absolutely wrong (which it is) but it does force a more sensible attitude to recycling, reusing and make do and mend. It does make you think twice about what is really necessary to live life.I have also been having conversations about polygamy (Gambians can take up to 4 wives) and am convinced it is a one sided benefit to the man although it was explained to me today while I was waiting for a shop to open that the reason he was late was that it was his night for visiting his young second wife and he was probably very tired from the night’s exertions. This was said with a perfectly straight face....I couldn’t look him straight in the eye when he did eventually arrive! The male readers of this blog might appreciate the chance to have up to 4 girlfriends but I doubt whether they could honour the tenet of the faith which is that all wives must be treated equally and that is in material and physical affection! Men tell me they hate it when their wives argue because one is believed to be more favoured than another......Progress in the house, too. I have added this photo to show the wall batiks and the new sideboard and mirror. I have acquired a new (second-hand) kitchen unit which gives me more storage and I can keep the ants and cockroaches at bay with industrial amounts of Tupperware containers or recycled milk powder tins or yoghurt pots. My wardrobe arrangement is rather novel too. A broom handle is doing the trick.Liza, eat your heart out!As I said, you look to re-use everything in another form which brings me to my next picture.Paul's ballsThis is Paul, another volunteer, who is training Maths teachers at the Teacher Training College. His passion is rugby, rugby and more rugby and is working hard to promote rugby in the country. He is hoping to get association status from the RFU in due course. He is the master of make do and mend. He makes markers out of sand-filled water bottles and is shown here stuffing crafted pieces of material with kapok and polystyrene to make light rugby balls. When I asked what he could do with, he said“ A thousand rugby balls so that the teachers can run proper practices” So, who do you know with links to rugby clubs? Can you help?The batiks come from a really nice guy called Lawrence Toyinbo, who is a known artist.Lawrence's stuff is here.I saw his work at a friend’s house and it is a cut above the tourist craft market stuff. I love it!Three Jola DrummersI am also getting involved with a very exciting project at theMakasutu Culture Forest. In October, they are putting together an installation street art project using artists from UK, US and Europe. It is called Wide Open Walls . Look atEelus'work, amazing, and he has just won a prize in America.Look at the blog I am about to meet the owner/director of the Makasuto Culture Forest and hope to be part of the team to promote the event.I have done some great walks, including this one through Cape Point where in the picture there is the sea, a small walkway where the horses are and then a freshwater pond with crocodiles in.sea to the left, croc on right I saw one but it didn’t show more than the top of its head! I would guess it was about two/three feet long. Also, great birds, I’m particularly impressed by the number of different kingfishers. We stopped for a drink at an amazing bar, the Calypso Bar, a two storey building made from wood, including driftwood with great views over the Atlantic and excellent bird watching opportunities.Paul and DeniseThought I’d show you the street outside the compound, this is in the mid-morning when no-one is about, then there is my corner shop (called bitiks) and the taxi rank I have to walk through to get my lift to work. The tyres mark the spot where the road has collapsed into the sand.The local bitikIt's all go!Sand and dirt roadsFinally I thought I would alert you all to an amazing woman calledPhillis WheatleyA Gambian woman taken to the US as a slave where she became a published poet! She actually died penniless but an amazing life story, nonetheless.Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,Taught my benighted soul to understandThat there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too:Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.Some view our sable race with scornful eye,“Their colour is a diabolic dye.”Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train.´Through her poetry, Wheatley is credited with helping found African American literature.Progress and art, like I said at the beginning..........