Zebala 1: A village in the Sikasso Region, Mali

Zebala is a large village about 50 kms from Koutiala in the Sikasso Region of Mali. The internetworked compounds spread out from a central area where celebrations like weddings are held. There is a small market area for the weekly market, and small boutiques are hidden on the edge of the interlocked compounds. All the buildings are made from mudbrick, often with corrugate roofs and window shutters. The main cash crop for the area is cotton, and there are huge’holding areas’ where the cotton is collected ready to be sold to the middle men. Large trucks rumble in and out of the village taking cotton to Koutiala for processing.

Zebala for me conjures up pictures of ‘real Mali’. A rural village in the south which is rich in culture and interest. I stayed in the village for 10 days over Christmas in 2000 and I have many good memories, some of which I have posted here in the Zebala series of postings.

 

Zebala, a village in the Sikasso Region, Mali, originally uploaded by Malilady.

This photo was taken on a Minyanka compound in a rural village. The building behind the girl is a sleeping room. A bamboo bed can be seen airing in the sun. This is done to reduce bedbugs.