Kalabougou Pictures

Hand forming clay pots in the village of Kalabougou, Mali

Straw is burned around the pots to fire them. As we approached it looked like a blazing inferno had engulfled the village.

The fired and glazed pots were pulled out of the embers using long poles. This enterprise is undertaken entirely by the women and Kalabougou is famous throughout Mali for the fine pots produced there. 

Despite the energy and the industry in Kalabougou incomes are low and there is poverty and malnutrition. This boy carries his brother on his back.

Herd of cows being driven to an island in the River Niger, near Kalabougou, to graze.

Sunset on the River Niger taken from a small boat as we headed back to Ségou