Dakar=part 2(Senegal)

so..the Sandaga market..that's something else...
typical African market..very colourful..very mysterious..
I saw lots of gri gri=magical potions..amulets etc...
strange things..tiger claws,chicken feet,snake hide etc..
they use this in witchcraft..mostly to ward off evil..
it could be also some Sura's out of the Holy Koran..
put into an amulet..worn on the body for good luck..
some whitchcraft is also like voodoo(juju)..bad thing...
I talked about these facts with a student..who spoke..
fluent French...in Senegal people believe in magic...
a local marabout(Muslim leader)has got lots of power..
Islam is different in Senegal..more tolerant..
and mixed with local traditions..the Mouride sect..
founded by Ahmadou Bamba..is a good example of this..
if you ever could witness the Magal festival in Touba..
don't hesitate..but it will be hectic..very hectic..
Amadou Bamba is a *phir*a Muslim saint...in Yoff..
there's a *phir* sanctuary on the beach...it's a Lebu tribal
community..I went to Yoff in 1986..with my wife...
I won a quiz on Belgian television..and a free trip to Senegal..
if you're interested in healing etc...go to Yoff...close to Dakar..
it's an animistic ritual..where posseded people..are cured..
it often involves animal sacrifice..ceremony is called *ndeup*
I never witnessed it...and I don't think I'm very much interested
in all that voodoo stuff..but just to give you all an idea..
West Africa got lots of mysterious rituals..nothing for us....
so..this student told me..if a husband finds out his wife is cheating..
they go to one of these whitchcraft doctors..and put a spell..
no need to tell..whether this works or not...lots of swindlers...
ah..yip...Sandaga...opened my eyses a bit..about all this...
well..I would not recommend the fish section in Sandaga...
lots of fish i never saw..but I had to keep my fingers on my nose..
also herbs..very strange potions...all kind of mixtures..
fruits..vegetables...handicrafts..souvenirs...it's all too much..
for the eyes..and very hectic..watch out for pickpockets as well..
I enjoyed Sandaga market..if you can talk with the people..
it's O.K..it's not a place to walk around with a Nikon camera..
I saw some balafon/kora music players...aw..lovely music it was..
it took me quote a while to finish Sandaga..it's a test for the nerves..
allright..but it was worthwhile anyway...after that..I went into the
Medina..with the Grand Mosque..built in Morrocco style..
tourists were not allowed when I was passing by there..
another market is Til?ne..again typical African..bit like Sandaga..
the currency in Senegal was CFA=African Franc..coupled to French
Francs=FF..I don't recall..either it was the double..or half value??
in the afternoon..I went to the railways station of Dakar..nice building..
found out about trains to Bamako(Mali)I intended to take the train to
Tambacounda..or even truy hitchhiking to some town where I could
take that train..it was just a plan in my head...Gor?e island...
was not for that day..I intended to visit it next day..
instead I went to Ifan museum...well..to tell you all honestly..
it showed some nice masks of various tribes of Senegal..
this museum is worthwhile..if you're interested in masks,cermonial
gear of tribes,clothes,funeral and wedding rituals etc...
I was really tired that day..went back to the hotel...
these French dudes...sold their Peugeot with benefit...
and were gonna fly back to France..funny dudes...
will tell you all more about slave island Gor?e later on..
Tiger