Cornishmaninafrica

A number of people from the village of Lama Nyikpeyo live and work in Lomé, the capital city. They tend to be better off than those who have remained in the village, and still feel a strong sense of solidarity with them.

Every July, they returned to the village to participate in the traditional wrestling ceremonies. This year there was great excitement when they arrived home and saw the new borehole. But why the padlock? Emmanuel explained that it was because the village had not yet been able to honour its agreement to contribute £130 pounds.

At this, the Lomé residents clubbed together and contributed £64. So now the village only needs to find another £19 and we can unlock the borehole and start to use it.

- Got excited seeing my first Pied Crow, until I realised how common they are down south
- Long-tailed wydah at Grand Popo.
- Variable sunbirds are very common on SIL Lome centre. Never seen this variety up north.
- Also greenheaded and blacknecked sunbirds
- Several tree-loads of village weavers chattering noisily at the Hilacondji border.

Just came back from a five day silent retreat with the monks at Notre Dame du Kokoubou, a monastery in Benin. Here are some photos:

Kokoubou - entrance hut

Kokoubou - the oratory by night

Kokoubou - guest rooms

Kokoubou - guest rooms

Kokoubou - the oratory

Kokoubou - inside the oratory

In Kabiye culture, children and teenagers are taught to have total respect for elders and authority. To merely come when you are called is not sufficient. You have to drop what ever you are doing and come running. Yesterday, I called Essotchelinam to come and help me with something. He arrived dripping wet and wrapped in a towel. I told him he could finish his shower first.

Yesterday morning, the neighbourhood chief arrived with a delegation and handed me a further £10 as a contribution to the cost of the borehole. They pleaded with me on bended knee (as people do around here) to take off the padlock. I felt quite heartless telling them that they first needed to find another £82. But other Togolese friends are all encouraging me to stand firm and expect the villagers to honour their written commitment.

Well, as you can see from the photos, the borehole team came back to build the enclosing wall and instal the pump. Now there is a huge padlock around it so that the villagers can’t use it.

What?! Yes, we did this on the borehole company’s recommendation. First things first: the villagers themselves need to come up with a further £100 to honour their written agreement. Then we need to have an official opening ceremony wheeling in all the usual local dignitaries. Then we’ll take off the padlock and the women can start to draw water. I haven’t heard a single woman complain about the delay.