N'DUSU KASIRA Bambara is a very poetic language. The word for fruit, for instance, is JIRIDENW, which means 'children of the trees'. N'dusu ka sira, means 'I am sad'. But in literal translation: 'my heart is crying'. The Aga Khan Foundation’s...

The water has now receded and once more the view from the sunset bar is one of football players rather than fishermen in their pirogues. This peaceful scene belies the increasing rumours of unrest and Al-Quaida activity coming from the north. A...

Keita accompanied me back to Djenné after Tabaski, just for the day’s journey in our new car. He has not been back since the terrible events of early last March when he left with Mai in the Djenné ambulance bound for Bamako. The idea of returning...

Tabaski Greeting from Segou. I remember in about 1985, the art world was electrified by the discovery of a new Titian painting: The Flaying of Marsyas. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy. Did Titian travel in these climes? The scenes I witnessed in...

After the morning’s bloody events everyone gets dressed up. It is the moment for showing off one’s best clothes and here is Lassina, Keita”s 5 year old boy looking very cool, doing just that…