Articles on Central Africa

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…
Salt caravans in the Sahara, resistance or death

It’s still possible to find salt for sale in the markets of the Sahel and in Saharan cities such as Gao, Timbuktu, Agadez, and Kalait. And on our winter expeditions…
Ennedi Rock Art: Paintings and Engravings of the Chadian Sahara

The rock art of Ennedi is one of the great cultural treasures of the Sahara. Thousands of paintings and engravings are scattered throughout caves, rock shelters, and sandstone cliffs in…
The Wodaabe of Chad: origins, symbols and relationships in Gerewol

On our Kumakonda trips, we’ve had many encounters with the Wodaabe of Chad, and we even travel to their Gerewol festival every year. For us, this nomadic people—part of the…
Nomads of Lake Chad: Peoples, History, and Ways of Life

Human presence at Lake Chad dates back thousands of years, as evidenced by the archaeological remains found in the region. Later, during what we know as the Middle Ages, the…
Lake Chad, a stunning natural and cultural ecosystem

Lake Chad is a legendary place in Central Africa. It is one of the continent’s great symbols, like Kilimanjaro or the Sahara Desert. Divided among Chad, Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon…
Sapeurs, the dandies of the Congo and the “SAPE”

In Brazzaville and Kinshasa, the capitals of the two Congos, hundreds of sapeurs are part of the urban subcultural movement known as SAPE.
Tata Gonda, the celestial army in DR Congo

In the depths of the province of Congo Central, the followers of the now dead prophet Tata Gonda live in total autarchy.
National Gungu Festival of Congo, traditional Pende culture

Gungu Festival, traditional culture and community development The National Gungu Festival (FESNAG) is a manifestation of socio-cultural and touristic promotion of the traditional Pende culture, promoted from within by the…
Travel to Chad: Ennedi Massif Natural and Cultural Reserve

One of the main objectives of travel to Chad is to visit the Ennedi Massif, one of the most sublime corners of the African continent.
The Wild Tibesti, the Sahara’s Last Frontier

Tibesti, a huge landscape of volcanoes, canyons, oases, dunes, bizarre peaks and isolated villages inhabited by the rude Teda people.
Baaka Pygmies, forest inhabitants of Central Africa – 4/4

Pygmy peoples of Africa In this final part of the trip that we started in Chad four weeks before, we had not yet met one of the most interesting peoples…