documentary | filmmaking | photography | people | travel
Taken whilst on the ‘River Gambia Expedition – 1044km source-sea African odyssey‘, 2012-13, from the source of the river in the Fouta Djallon Highlands of Guinea-Conakry, to the mouth of the river, at the Atlantic Ocean, The Gambia – co-lead by Jason Florio and Helen Jones-Florio
Check out Youtube footage: ‘River Gambia’ © Jason Florio & Helen Jones-Florio
‘All the village chiefs we met, very kindly permitted our raggle-taggle, road-weary, team to turn up, unannounced, and pitch our small camp, each evening.
To show our respect, as strangers, when approaching the village chief -the Alkalo – we used the age-old traditional protocol, called ‘silafando’ (which roughly translates as ‘a gift to you on behalf of my journey’). The gift of a handful of bitter kola nuts – the walnut-sized nuts play an important role, in the Gambian culture and traditional social life. The chief then shares the nuts with his most important village elders. They break open the nuts and chew them, which are also valued for their pharmacological properties – they act as a natural stimulant and, apparently, an aphrodisiac.
Once the gift is accepted, from that point on, everyone knew that we were there as guests of the Alkalo. This meant that we were to be treated with respect, for the duration of our stay. And, if any of the villagers were to disrespect us, then they would have to answer to the Alkalo, along with putting shame on their family‘ . An excerpt from ‘A Short Walk in the Gambian Bush – 930km African odyssey‘ by Helen Jones-Florio
Related post: ‘Silafando’ – portraits of Gambian village chiefs, exhibited for the first time in The Gambia
I came across this rather enchanting scene, this morning, as I was walking around Sliema, Malta – the only way, for me personally, to get a real feel for a place. It’s one of the first things I love to do, when I travel to a new place… take some time, stroll around, and get my bearings (no GPS or maps involved!).
I sat on a rock, nearby, trying not to feel like an intruder, and marveled at this sight, and the tranquility it invoked. It looked as if this was a regular occurrence, as the horse was obviously very used to standing there in the water, taking in the early morning rays, as his master stood quietly by. The man looked over at me, and smiled, ‘good morning’, he said, before turning his attention back to gazing intently at his horse; as I quietly slipped away.
For regular travel photo updates from us – Helen Jones-Florio and, photographer, Jason Florio, please visit our Instagram page: floriotravels
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