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August 30, 2006
Djibo FM programme schedule
We have decided on a provisional programme schedule for Djibo FM. You can download it below in French or English:
Posted by sahelsteve at 06:33 PM
Pre-order Sophie and the Locust Curse
Sophie and the Locust Curse is now available for pre-order on Amazon.
Meanwhile it seems that my mother has been on the Albino Camel Public Relations Warpath, with this letter in the Books section of last Saturday's Times. Ha ha. Thanks, Mum.
Posted by sahelsteve at 06:21 PM
August 15, 2006
Gorom-Gorom floods
There has been disastrous flooding in Gorom-Gorom. Hundreds of mud-brick houses have collapsed, leaving thousands homeless.
Keith is helping to organise a relief effort.
Flood, drought, winds, locusts: spin the wheel, pick a calamity. When I moved to Gorom-Gorom in 2001 I soon realised what a fascinating but unliveable place it was. Unliveable in that year after year people see the things they have worked for destroyed - one year their houses, another year their harvest. Year after year it happens and year after year, in true If Spirit, the people of Gorom-Gorom stoop and build them up with worn-out tools. Flood, drought, winds, locusts - calamities come and go but the people, for the most part, stay.
When I ask my friends why they don't move away - further south perhaps, where the land and climate are less hostile - they often reply with the verb woowude, which means 'to be used to something'. Min mboowi gaa - We are used to it here.
The Wodaabe Fulani say that Suffering is like the sparks that jump out of the fire at night and burn your feet as you sit nearby. They say that Joy is like the droplets of milk that jump out of the calabash when you are milking a cow and wet your face and arms. Life is a mixture of the two - sparks and droplets.
Please read Keith's report on the flooding in Gorom and then his update on the Gorom-Gorom floods, and consider whether or not you can contribute to the relief effort.
Posted by sahelsteve at 10:21 PM
Dave Shelton Locust Curse Roughs
Dave has finished the roughs for the 'Locust Curse' illustrations. The book is about resourcefulness and creativity in the face of suffering. Particularly poignant in the light of recent events in Gorom-Gorom.
Here are the pics for chapters 3, 4 and 7:
Posted by sahelsteve at 10:15 PM
August 02, 2006
Wedding details
The wedding will be at HTB in Knightsbridge (which is aesthetically pleasing because it's the only area of London which contains six consecutive consonants).
The church is booked for 7 July next year (which is aesthetically pleasing because it will be 07/07/07).
The bride is Charlie Harrison (which is extremely pleasing in lots of ways).
Posted by sahelsteve at 10:36 PM
Mud-spattered laughing-boy
There is a feel-good photo over at Under the Acacias today. And if you missed Under the Acacias in July, you shouldn't have.