What to see in Guinea Conakry: a guide to discovering the heart and soul of West Africa
Guinea Conakry is a country that can only be truly understood by travelling through it at a leisurely pace. Every stretch of dirt track brings with it a different scent, new vegetation and languages that change from one village to the next. If you’re looking for an authentic West African experience, this destination offers a […]
Mask ceremonies and festivals in Burkina Faso
Mask ceremonies and festivals in Burkina Faso Mask ceremonies and festivals in Burkina Faso are fundamental rites, mainly of the Gourounsi, Bwa, Bobo and Mossi peoples. These ritual masks embody spirits of nature, animals and ancestors and serve to ensure fertility, harvests and social order. Often held at the end of the dry season in […]
Kahate, male initiation in Casamance, diola culture
Kahate, male initiation in Casamance, diola culture Our journey in Casamance continues to delve into the Diola culture. We are immersed in this second edition of the “African Deep Roots 2026”, a special journey through West Africa in search of the initiation rituals that happen at this time of the year. After the impressive Karahay […]
Karahay (Karahaye), the initiation ritual of the diola women of Casamance
Karahay (Karahaye), the initiation ritual of the diola ajamat women of Casamance Our journey in Senegal continues through the Casamance region, land of the Diola people. We are immersed in this second edition of the “African Deep Roots 2026”, a special journey through West Africa in search of the initiation rituals that happen at this […]
Trip to Casamance in Senegal, culture and dance of the Diola people
Trip to Casamance in Senegal, culture and dance of the Diola people Trip to Casamance in Senegal with Mara Bagossi to discover the culture and dance of the Diola people. Documentation and editing: Mara Bagossi. Mara has been living in Casamance since 2016 and is passionate about African music and dance and an expert in […]
Sharo Ceremony, the scars of Fulani love in Nigeria
Sharo fulani ceremony in northern Nigeria We travelled to northern Nigeria to attend a Sharo or Shadi Fulani ceremony. There, in a remote village in Jigawa State on the border with Niger, is home to one of the largest communities of Fulani herdsmen in the whole of Nigeria. We heard that traditional Sharo ceremonies, a […]
Kankurang, the Mandinka initiation rite in West Africa
Kankurang, Mandinka initiation rite in West Africa Kankurang, a Mandinka initiation rite practised mainly in Senegal, Gambia and Guinea Bissau. We delve into this initiatory world with Judit Torrent Navarro. Text: Judit Navarro / Photography: Austerio Alonso Kankurang, Mama I sabari, Mama sufri, Mama long-suffering Judit Torrent Navarro, chapter of her book pending editing«Els sons […]
Planet Sahel, a borderline territory
The Sahel is a land of transition between the desert and the savannah that precedes the jungles of the south. It is a horizontal strip of land spread across more than 10 countries. It crosses the entire African continent from east to west at its widest point, and as a borderland it marks the character […]