Last Saturday, the Beninese president, Yayi Boni, came to Sonsoro. He chose my village to celebrate the start of the cotton-selling season. Cotton is one of Benin's top commodities, especially in my region of the country.
The president's visit sparked a festival-like atmosphere, with huge tents, dozens of food vendors, traveling musicians, and horsemen. Road crews even came before the event to level out our pothole-riddled dirt road into town.
The president's visit sparked a festival-like atmosphere, with huge tents, dozens of food vendors, traveling musicians, and horsemen. Road crews even came before the event to level out our pothole-riddled dirt road into town.
 |
| Piles of cotton provided decor for the event. This one had a sign for the president. |
 |
| Trucks full of cotton |
 |
| Attendees literally came by the truckload. |
 |
| A traveling band from Parakou |
 |
| Peulh horsemen |
 |
| The president arrived in style. |
 |
| Can you spy the president? He's near the left wearing a grey cowboy hat and white shirt and has his back to the camera. |
Wow, what an honor!!!! Is the cotton exported to Nigeria where it is woven into fabric? The fabric for your African clothes came from Nigeria, but now I know that my tablecloth came from Sonsora, so is fabric woven in both places?
ReplyDeleteJean Ralley
Cotton is a major export product, but I am not sure where it is sent. It is true that much (nearly all?) of our clothing fabric seems to come from other West African countries, including Nigeria. The country of production is often written along one edge of the fabric.
ReplyDeleteThe weaving done for your tablecloth is quite different (and much nicer) than the cloth that all of my African outfits are made of. Printed fabrics are much coarser.