^
Two shepherds herd the cattle in search of water and pasture through the Ferlo valley, ancient area of transhumance for Peuhl nomadic pastors in
the region of Louga, North of Senegal. Those who knew it in the past, say that the Ferlo was a green and fertile land more than fifty years ago.
Today is one of the most affected areas by desertification due to climate change. In 2007 the Government of Senegal created the National Agency
of the Great Green Wall to develop an action plan that will contribute to stop the advance of the desert and assist the affected population. The Ferlo,
which suffered severe droughts for decades, welcomes with excitement and hope the project that wants to bring back the socio-environmental
system already gone, an exceptionally green and fertile area that turned into a desert.
the region of Louga, North of Senegal. Those who knew it in the past, say that the Ferlo was a green and fertile land more than fifty years ago.
Today is one of the most affected areas by desertification due to climate change. In 2007 the Government of Senegal created the National Agency
of the Great Green Wall to develop an action plan that will contribute to stop the advance of the desert and assist the affected population. The Ferlo,
which suffered severe droughts for decades, welcomes with excitement and hope the project that wants to bring back the socio-environmental
system already gone, an exceptionally green and fertile area that turned into a desert.
IN THE SHADE OF THE ACACIA TREES
It is said by those who knew first hand, that the Ferlo was a green and fertile land over 50 years ago.
But the burning sun, the extreme dryness and the Harmattan have transformed the harvest into desert.
The Ferlo Valley, in the north of Senegal, is one of most affected areas by desertification and climate
change. It has become an inhospitable place where the Sahara advances ruthlessly, covering the
intense and saturated greens that once dominated the landscape with ochres and yellows.
This area of the Sahel has always been inhabited by the Fulani people, who are nomadic shepherds
of enigmatic origin that have extended throughout West Africa. Subjected to tough climatic pressures
with extreme temperatures and little shade to take refuge in, the Fulani lifestyle is under threat, which
has been anchored on tradition and immutability and it has remained in balance for centuries. The new
circumstances force the nomads to settle down in order to survive. They dig 300 metres wells, and
often, do not find water. They have to move again, walking for days and weeks, while their livestock die
of hunger and thirst.
In the Shade of the Acacia Trees explores the silent and permanent battle of Fulani people against
their worst enemy, the desert, while they search for a stronghold of life next to the few trees that resist.
The acacia tree is their shield, their refuge, a truce in their long journey and their last hope. In the Sahel,
the future is an illusion that evaporates like a mirage. And the Fulani are at the front line of a battle that
concerns us all.
In the Shade of the Acacia Trees is a chronicle of shepherd people that invokes the rain while they
fight against the sand. And, meanwhile, they witness how their future dilutes little by little into a palette
of eternal ochres, of uncertain oranges, and unknown earth tones that nobody knows where they will
lead us.
But the burning sun, the extreme dryness and the Harmattan have transformed the harvest into desert.
The Ferlo Valley, in the north of Senegal, is one of most affected areas by desertification and climate
change. It has become an inhospitable place where the Sahara advances ruthlessly, covering the
intense and saturated greens that once dominated the landscape with ochres and yellows.
This area of the Sahel has always been inhabited by the Fulani people, who are nomadic shepherds
of enigmatic origin that have extended throughout West Africa. Subjected to tough climatic pressures
with extreme temperatures and little shade to take refuge in, the Fulani lifestyle is under threat, which
has been anchored on tradition and immutability and it has remained in balance for centuries. The new
circumstances force the nomads to settle down in order to survive. They dig 300 metres wells, and
often, do not find water. They have to move again, walking for days and weeks, while their livestock die
of hunger and thirst.
In the Shade of the Acacia Trees explores the silent and permanent battle of Fulani people against
their worst enemy, the desert, while they search for a stronghold of life next to the few trees that resist.
The acacia tree is their shield, their refuge, a truce in their long journey and their last hope. In the Sahel,
the future is an illusion that evaporates like a mirage. And the Fulani are at the front line of a battle that
concerns us all.
In the Shade of the Acacia Trees is a chronicle of shepherd people that invokes the rain while they
fight against the sand. And, meanwhile, they witness how their future dilutes little by little into a palette
of eternal ochres, of uncertain oranges, and unknown earth tones that nobody knows where they will
lead us.
^
Mariama, 19 years old, with her cousin Paid, 17, go every morning to the well of Widou in search of water for their cattle. Widou was born around
a deep borehole made in the 1956 with the support of the German and French cooperation programmes in response to the extended drought
in the area. The Fulani, traditionally nomads, become sedentary thanks to the diverse water spots created in the valley, which guarantee their lives
and their livestock survival, which is their greatest treasure.
a deep borehole made in the 1956 with the support of the German and French cooperation programmes in response to the extended drought
in the area. The Fulani, traditionally nomads, become sedentary thanks to the diverse water spots created in the valley, which guarantee their lives
and their livestock survival, which is their greatest treasure.
^
A group of young people draw water from the well of Belel Fadioudji, a village 30km away from Widou. This area had never been inhabited before,
but the construction of the well made the nomads settle down. Nowadays, there is an estimated population of 12.000 people and over 50.000 head
of livestock. According to Pape Gueye, the Great Green Wall National Agency’s director, the annual rainfall is from 100 to 300 mm, which implies they
are absolutely depending on deep-water drilling to guarantee the people and animal’s survival.
but the construction of the well made the nomads settle down. Nowadays, there is an estimated population of 12.000 people and over 50.000 head
of livestock. According to Pape Gueye, the Great Green Wall National Agency’s director, the annual rainfall is from 100 to 300 mm, which implies they
are absolutely depending on deep-water drilling to guarantee the people and animal’s survival.
^
The Ferlo desert is the epicentre of the Great Green Wall in Senegal, a pan African project created by the African Union and the ancient Government
of Senegal. The GGW is a huge mosaic of small interventions that promotes the human and environmental development across all the countries of the
Sahel, from Dakar to Djibouti. The project represents almost 8.000km length and around 15km wide that crosses eleven countries of the African continent.
It was created to tackle the advance of the desert, to stop the massive migration due to desertification and the impoverishment of the population.
of Senegal. The GGW is a huge mosaic of small interventions that promotes the human and environmental development across all the countries of the
Sahel, from Dakar to Djibouti. The project represents almost 8.000km length and around 15km wide that crosses eleven countries of the African continent.
It was created to tackle the advance of the desert, to stop the massive migration due to desertification and the impoverishment of the population.
^
Kumba Ka, 30 years old, with her daughter by the well of Widou. Kumba Ka is married with some children, but it’s not easy to know how many kids
she has, as it is hard to know how many head of livestock. If you ask a Fulani, she will never say the exact number of children she has even though
they know it because the Fulani, apart from being very modest people, they are extremely superstitious, they fear that if they say it, they might lose
one children or the cattle.
she has, as it is hard to know how many head of livestock. If you ask a Fulani, she will never say the exact number of children she has even though
they know it because the Fulani, apart from being very modest people, they are extremely superstitious, they fear that if they say it, they might lose
one children or the cattle.
^
Djin, Kumba, Mariatou, Nolel and Mariama finish their workday at the garden of Widou. Funded by the World Food Programme and the Canadian
Cooperation, the garden allows them to develop their own economic activity and take part of the global development project of the Senegalese Sahel.
Women represent the 52% of the population on the strip of 550km of Great Green Wall in Senegal, where around 322.000 people will get involved and
also benefited from the activities that compose the most ambitious pan African project ever.
Cooperation, the garden allows them to develop their own economic activity and take part of the global development project of the Senegalese Sahel.
Women represent the 52% of the population on the strip of 550km of Great Green Wall in Senegal, where around 322.000 people will get involved and
also benefited from the activities that compose the most ambitious pan African project ever.
^
A group of children at the first school of Widou, opened in 1998. These children are the first generation of Fulani from the Ferlo who attend school.
The settlement of Fulani communities in the Ferlo makes possible to children to go to school. New schools have opened in the area and, instead of
learning to be shepherds as they used to when their families were nomadic, now they learn to read and write in classrooms. The education of the
new generations is a clear sign of the change that arrives.
The settlement of Fulani communities in the Ferlo makes possible to children to go to school. New schools have opened in the area and, instead of
learning to be shepherds as they used to when their families were nomadic, now they learn to read and write in classrooms. The education of the
new generations is a clear sign of the change that arrives.
^
A group of young boys waiting outside the health centre of Widou for a routine consultation session right after being circumcised. Since the opening
of the new health centre in Widou, most of the children are born and circumcised in their premises by the local doctor with better health conditions
that in the past. The health centre of Widou is having a great and positive impact within the local population. Now that healthcare has arrived to the
Ferlo, the health conditions of many people have improved their living standards substantially.
of the new health centre in Widou, most of the children are born and circumcised in their premises by the local doctor with better health conditions
that in the past. The health centre of Widou is having a great and positive impact within the local population. Now that healthcare has arrived to the
Ferlo, the health conditions of many people have improved their living standards substantially.
^
Small village in the Ferlo. The landscape is dry and arid most of the year. The Ferlo desert is the epicentre of the Great Green Wall in Senegal,
a pan African project created by the African Union and the ancient Government of Senegal. The GGW is a huge mosaic of small interventions
that promotes the human and environmental development across all the countries of the Sahel, from Dakar to Djibouti. The project represents
almost 8.000km length and around 15km wide that crosses eleven countries of the African continent. It was created to tackle the advance of
the desert, to stop the massive migration due to desertification and the impoverishment of the population.
a pan African project created by the African Union and the ancient Government of Senegal. The GGW is a huge mosaic of small interventions
that promotes the human and environmental development across all the countries of the Sahel, from Dakar to Djibouti. The project represents
almost 8.000km length and around 15km wide that crosses eleven countries of the African continent. It was created to tackle the advance of
the desert, to stop the massive migration due to desertification and the impoverishment of the population.
^
Oumar Sôfel Kolo is a small merchant with a store in Widou where he sells basic products such as sugar, coffee, batteries, torches, milk powder,
top up cards for telephones and rice. “My dad sent me to Dakar for my studies. I moved back to Widou when he died and I inherited all his cattle,
but I was not a good shepherd and then the drought came and all the animals died. I have lost all the fortune of my family and I feel very ashamed”.
Oumar is the son of the village’s chief, a very noble and respected person by all the community. “Nowadays young people go to Dakar, they discover
a new lifestyle, and then they don’t want to come back. They rather have a job and buy a car or a house, instead of being shepherds in the Ferlo.
If the new generations don’t come back, taking care of the cattle, our way of life dies”.
top up cards for telephones and rice. “My dad sent me to Dakar for my studies. I moved back to Widou when he died and I inherited all his cattle,
but I was not a good shepherd and then the drought came and all the animals died. I have lost all the fortune of my family and I feel very ashamed”.
Oumar is the son of the village’s chief, a very noble and respected person by all the community. “Nowadays young people go to Dakar, they discover
a new lifestyle, and then they don’t want to come back. They rather have a job and buy a car or a house, instead of being shepherds in the Ferlo.
If the new generations don’t come back, taking care of the cattle, our way of life dies”.
^
Demba keeps the cattle together at night in Ngonko village, 7km away from Widou. The severe droughts, the advance of the desert, the increase
of the population and the reduction of the cattle are affecting the balance of the Fulani, a way of life that has been kept for centuries. Nowadays,
nomadic people tend to become sedentary to guarantee the water and food for their families and their livestock. The Fulani lifestyle is under threat
whilst the Sahara Desert spreads relentlessly.
of the population and the reduction of the cattle are affecting the balance of the Fulani, a way of life that has been kept for centuries. Nowadays,
nomadic people tend to become sedentary to guarantee the water and food for their families and their livestock. The Fulani lifestyle is under threat
whilst the Sahara Desert spreads relentlessly.
^
The sun sets in Widou. A group of kids play football after school. The settlement of Fulani communities in the Ferlo makes possible to children
to go to school. New schools have opened in the area and now, instead of learning to be shepherds as they used to when their families were
nomadic, they learn to read and write in classrooms. The education of the new generations is a clear sign of the change that arrives.
to go to school. New schools have opened in the area and now, instead of learning to be shepherds as they used to when their families were
nomadic, they learn to read and write in classrooms. The education of the new generations is a clear sign of the change that arrives.