This is one corner of my homestead. The building on the far left has a room for the homestead's chickens, but what is in the other rooms remains a mystery to me. Next is the latrine: two spaces for bathing and one space with a toilet. We use big pieces of tin as doors. The circular hut is the kitchen (it gets really, really hot in there). The yellow building on the far right contains 3 bedrooms (one of which is mine) and the salon where we eat.
Me on the left and Rose, the senior co-wife, on the right. Rose is making sorghum beer and I'm holding the ladel, pretending to be the one who's making it. Every woman makes beer on a certain day or two each week. Rose, for instance, makes beer each Tuesday. On any given day of the week, you can find at least 5-6 woman who make beer, and on market day, it's as many as 15. It's the only real way Kabiye women make money, which is difficult, because sorghum beer is the first thing people stop buying when they are running low on cash, and people here tend to be running low on cash...
A lady serving us sorghum beer in calabashes. Calabashes are my new favorite vessels from which to drink.
A shot of an initiation ceremony in a nearby village named Tchikawa. There are 2 girls and 4 guys being initiated, and the man in front is one of their uncles. Various uncles stood in front of them and gave talks about how they're adults now, how they can have responsibilities, get married, etc. Each uncle gradually spilled a calabash of beer on the ground during his talk as a sacrifice.
This is a shot of our very beautiful hike up the mountain yesterday. Palm trees on mountains will forever feel like a paradox.
Hi Anne - Just want to let you know that I am thoroughly enjoying your blog. It is a great way to keep up with what you are up to in Togo. Also, I really enjoy your writing style. Just so you know, your lab duties next fall might include making sorghum beer!...
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