La Papeterie et Librairie de Cheick Hamalla Traore a Nara

I can not tell you if this little shop still exists but when I was living in Nara, la papeterie and librairie ( paper and stationery shop) of Cheick Hamalla Traore was the place to source your material for the office.

Many small shops were situated around the central market in Nara. An entire library of its own could be written about the life stories of the traders and owners of these convenience shops.

 I have listened more than afternoon over a  glass – or three – of strong, delicious Arab tea to their adventures about doing trade in the Sahel.

A Slow And Long Ride

The donkey cart was the only means of transport for many in the 1990’s. And although Nara is electrified and there are more cars today it probably still is for many. It took a slow and long ride, like for these two young men, to travel from the villages to Nara and back. They are sitting on top of a pile of fresh green leaves that have been collected around their village.

The Way Home

Going back to the village after a long market day in Nara

At the time when I was living in Nara the weekly market in Nara was one of the most important cross-border markets between Mali and Mauretania. Every Monday people traveled in the very early morning hours from the surrounding villages to Nara.

Many used as means of transport  “charettes” – commonly called donkey carts. Some came with cars from as far as Nouakchott in Mauretania. Goods that had been produced in the villages were sold or exchanged against consumer necessities that came from the capital Bamako or from Mauretania.

I was in the favourite position that I was living in the  house at the end of the road on the right hand side. I just had to look over the mud wall and could see ” the villageois ” traveling back and forth.