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  7. The Re Mudding Of Djenne

The Re-Mudding of Djenne

by DOMINIC BURDON

Mali

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Every year, residents of Djenne town work together to re-surface the iconic mud mosque. This was the calm before the storm of activity early in the morning, showing the mosque empty of workers.
Every year, residents of Djenne town work together to re-surface the iconic mud mosque. This was the calm before the storm of activity early in the morning, showing the mosque empty of workers.
The village chief decides when the mud from the riverbank is ready and the locals form teams of collectors and sculptors. Men run carrying baskets of mud on their heads to add to a pile inside the mosque grounds.
The village chief decides when the mud from the riverbank is ready and the locals form teams of collectors and sculptors. Men run carrying baskets of mud on their heads to add to a pile inside the mosque grounds.
Women carry very heavy, full buckets of water on their heads from the river, while girls carry smaller bowls. I used a filter and handheld the camera to capture this girl frozen among a blurry mass of men running from the river with mud.
Women carry very heavy, full buckets of water on their heads from the river, while girls carry smaller bowls. I used a filter and handheld the camera to capture this girl frozen among a blurry mass of men running from the river with mud.
Sculptors climb the wooden beams protruding from the outer walls of the mosque or use huge wooden ladders to scale the exterior of the mosque to start applying the new mud. Meanwhile, workers continue to fetch more mud to add to the pile down below, inside the impressive mosque.
Sculptors climb the wooden beams protruding from the outer walls of the mosque or use huge wooden ladders to scale the exterior of the mosque to start applying the new mud. Meanwhile, workers continue to fetch more mud to add to the pile down below, inside the impressive mosque.
Unfortunately for me, I was smacked bang in my right eye by a handful of mud that kids threw at me (bits of mud were still coming out of my eye a week later and I lost 2 layers of eyeball membrane) so I couldn't go inside the mosque. Though it looks pretty dangerous for the sculptors, they made it seem really easy; probably preferring it compared to running back and forward to fetch mud like these young guys.
Unfortunately for me, I was smacked bang in my right eye by a handful of mud that kids threw at me (bits of mud were still coming out of my eye a week later and I lost 2 layers of eyeball membrane) so I couldn't go inside the mosque. Though it looks pretty dangerous for the sculptors, they made it seem really easy; probably preferring it compared to running back and forward to fetch mud like these young guys.

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