The word “Dark Continent” struck me during my childhood, I kept wondering why Africa was called the Dark Continent. I imagined that the word dark was being referred to the colour of the skin of the people or may be that the colour of the soil was being referred to or may be that major part of the continent is not electrified which makes the night dark.
It was much later that I learnt that the word Dark Continent was being referred to the fact that most of the continent was unexplored till the late 19th century and there was a feeling of a mysterious aura around it.
I have been to the African continent twice, once in Kenya and recently to Senegal. I have found that the people of Africa are the most friendliest and welcoming. I have written quite a few blogs about Senegal and this will be dedicated to the lovely people that I met.
While travelling to St. Louis the bus slowed down a bit due to some commotion ahead, on enquiring I came to know that there was village livestock market. Immediately I requested the bus to stop and jumped out to meet some local villagers. This gentleman was selling goats and I took some snaps of his goats, it was then that he requested me to click his photograph. We did not understand each other’s language but could connect. Thank you…
We had just arrived at West Africa Farms and the villagers were celebrating end of harvest. These two young ladies were amongst the crowd watching the ceremony. As I pointed my camera to take the photograph they noticed me and looked straight at the camera, they both smiled back but they again looked back to where they were looking making this framing possible. Thank you…
Found him at Goree Island, his mom had just finished feeding him lunch when I spotted him. His mother was about to wash his face but I signalled her to wait she obliged with a smile and thus I captured this moment forever. Thanks to this lil boy and his mum.
During our field trip to a rural village I quietly went away from the main crowd and wandered off. This gentleman assumed that I was lost and kept pointing me back to the village. This showed the level of hospitality of the villagers. Thank you for trying to help me, even though I didn’t require it but your effort showed your good heart.
We were at Niouroukhlene Village and saw this wonderful young lady, initially I thought they had applied black lipstick but later I was told that it’s actually a tattoo that they have done in their lower lip. You can also see similar tattoo done in the eyebrows. Thanks for allowing me to take your photograph and show it to the world.
This is prince charming, he gave a ten minute performance for us in form of his smile. He kept smiling the same way till we were there at a gas station where we had stopped for refreshments. Thank you for this million dollar smile, you made my day.
This is another gentleman we met at the livestock market. What caught my attention was is reddish pink head turban, it made his face look reddish brown in the hot summer sun. Thank you for allowing me to click your photograph.
Spotted this cutie at Goree Island, she must be around three and had these colourful hair bands around her curly hair. She was not at all scared of my presence and kept on with her activity. Thank you for giving me this wonderful natural pose.
This is another gentleman we met at the livestock market. He must have been someone important as I found him surrounded by many men. He was dressed in simple attire but his blue worn out cap made him look more rustic. Thank you for allowing me to click your photograph.
Saw her at Niouroukhlene Village, her gaze was real mesmerizing. Dressed in an indigo blue attire and a black head scarf she looked very elegant. Being an Islamic country women do have some restrictions on being photographed, many of my colleagues were not allowed to take photographs but I was somehow lucky and was never refused. Thank you for allowing me to take your photograph.
While going to Goree Island there were a group of school students going to Goree for a school field trip. She was engrossed in her mobile phone while rest of the students were enjoying the ferry ride over Atlantic. Technology is fast catching up and even in these small African nations children’s are getting hooked to world of Internet.
He is the Niouroukhlene Village chief and a very powerful man considering his position. I requested his permission to click his photograph, he looked back and gave me a nod to acknowledging it. Even though we could not speck each other’s language but still could communicate through our gestures, this made this photograph a special one. Thank you for your permission.
Saw these group of women in St. Louis, they were waiting at the local bus stop. All of them wore colourful dresses which felt as if a rainbow had formed over the ground. Thanks for this colourful show.
This young bodybuilder was carrying a plastic chair over his head to the village gathering. I found the local children very energetic and self-sufficient, I guess the harsh living condition make them like this.
This traditional men’s clothing is known as Boubou. There are several variations to it and most of them are colourful, however white colour is the most common.
Cheerful, smiling… spotted these wonderfully dressed ladies at the Goree Port. Thank you for your smile.
While ravelling trough one of the villages I spotted these group of young children. It was as if they were waiting for me… all of them for a brief moment froze from whatever activity they were doing and I managed to freeze this frame forever.
Memories of Africa cannot be completed with these few photographs, I believe that the real memory is in my head which I will cherish for the rest of my life. If you can then visit Senegal once, you will enjoy every moment. Goodbye for now, will meet again with my next blog.
