Segou (MLI) : the grand old capital

N 13°26.869' W 006°15.890'
Although we left Bamako in the late afternoon, it wasn’t much cooler on the road. At least the bike’s windshield keeps the scorching air off our bodies. At dusk we again took advantage to tuck into a good portion of lamb at an open-air road-side stall. Even at night Segou’s status as the former capital was evident with its wide tree-lines avenues. The next day, from the corniche high above the Boni River we watched women do their washing and a bunch of kids at an energetic soccer game. Annabella and I have come to the conclusion that if it weren’t for the women, Africa would come to a standstill. We see them wash, cook, work in the gardens, collect fire wood, make food in the street, sell fruit and vegetables and raise the children, the smallest of which are tied on their backs while they work. This leaves the men to drive 4x4s, trucks, busses and battered bush-taxis, drink tea, hang around in the shade and ‘do business’.