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January 16, 2008
Gorom-Gorom Camel Festival
"Where is everyone…?"
I was back in town and trying to track people down to sort out a programme for our well-drilling research, and to pursue our request for a phone line, and various other needs. Strangely all the offices were shut, and the town was quiet. Finally someone told me:
“Everyone’s gone to the camel racing”
Of course.
Friday was Gorom-Gorom’s annual “Festicham” festival, with camel racing and horse racing, and exhibitions of local craft and culture. We arrived late, during the second heats of camel races. The whole town seemed to be there, along with a couple of government ministers, accompanying police guards, and a bunch of Italians who apparently finance the whole thing. Dust filled the air, kicked up by hundreds of hooves of various sizes, and thousands of feet.
A few photos...
Who knows, next year, maybe Pierre and I can enter on his camels, Obil and Eliezer...
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina gorom gorom-gorom horse racing sahel camel camels race festicham tuareg tamacheq camel race
Posted by Keith at January 16, 2008 04:04 PM
