Gangsta's Paradise

Here are just some of the photos that make me laugh about Fulani culture.  They want people to see them as being a serious people group.  This has a lot to do with the pride of being a “Pullo.”  Therefore, rarely do you see people laugh in photos and that happens only when I can be quick on the trigger and catch some candid shots.  Of course they tell me to erase all of the pictures of them laughing!  Enjoy!

Clash of Cultures

So lately during my leisure reading time I have been reading a book on art theory.  I usually read about 30 minutes or so before going to bed.  This week while out in the bush I my friend Tokka visited me and saw my facial expression change as I was reading a sentence about a Van Gogh painting that was sold for 53.9 million dollars.  She was of course was curious about what I was reading so she inquired.  I don’t think I will ever have enough Fulfulde to explain the subjunctive view of art, let alone art theory.  I told her it was something that people make and then put in their houses to look at.  The next day she pointed towards her wall that had 4 plastic covers from cell phones and said, “art, like this?”  I sat there trying to comprehend my view of art verses hers.  Is Van Gogh’s “Irises” comparable to things that we consider trash?  Well, to the Fulani it is.  I am really tempted to show them a Jackson Pollock and see what they have to say about that!  Anyways from my experience in Niger, my interpretation of “art” has definitely been stretched!