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12/1/1983 - Initial Impressions of Africa by Paula Williams

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT WRITER S CONSENT INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS PJW B P Ouagadougou Haute Volta Initial mpressi0ns Africa December Mro Peter Bird Martin Institute Current World Affairs Wheelock House West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 Dear Peter My first glimpse Africa airplane window approaching Niamey Niger The river glistened afternoon silver ribbon winding across landscape savanna scattered trees indivi green brown backdrop As plane dipped lower small compound consisting thatched roofed round surrounded fence It itself middle barren trees A further passed several story roofed rectangular buildings corrugated metal The contrast close proximity traditional dwellings modern buildin surprised How typical I dered coexistence Africa A romantic image perhaps shaped limited ledge Africa gained books films friends stories Now I going learn Africa After leaving Niamey Ouagadougou When disembarked PM greeted soldiers green fatigues berets carrying Russian Our progress through customs receipts passports instructions passports following security searched close PM Everyone quite anxious quickly airport could closed everyone before PM curfew The picked passports problems another Later evening quite surprised BBC broadcast repeated following evening Voic America which discussed recent developments Upper Volta The report mentionned government concerned possible infilitration white mercenaries hired those seeking destabilize current regime Given concern tightened security measures airport thoroughly inter rogating foreigners searching their luggage withholding Paula J Williams Forest Society Fellow Institute Current World Affairs studying human forest resources Saharan Africa their passports overnight requiring report police further interrogation The radio broadcasts painted picture situation ourselves experienced Certainly fellow passengers grown impatient lengthy customs process evidence being treated roughly discourteously What really happened Was question perception interpretation others thought truly ordeal Or others really treated differently I experienced To extent report accurately represent situation I began realize there going experiencing Africa first merely seeing things Far important perhaps process interpretation assigning meaning weight those experiences Our first morning Ouagadougou I amazed number trees lining streets In reading about firewood situation Africa 0uagadougou always cited example severe shortages allegedly firewood available within kilometers While I exactly expected desert amount tation pleasant surprise From hotel window I large wooded which nsmed after Paris Bois Boulogne I could people going loads woman carrying donkey In weeks I driving large trucks women loads backs their bicycles mobylettes motor scooters women donkey carts their heads While I haven being center large piles outlying residential areas The center Ouagadougou revolves around Grand Marche The Marche large public msrket roughly square blocks where sorts things imagineable In corner market large corrugated metal building which houses butchers numerous produce enders The butchers wooden metal cages local vulture population patiently cages waiting scraps The market consists covered stalls Different sections market specialize ferent items tailors their sewing machines cloth sellers women selling kitchenware another repairing bicycles mobylettes somewhere Women commonly vending foods another beans fresh peanut butter locally prepared foods Sometimes women bundles grass unusual mysterious leaves Where women children often close young their backs older playing close Children begin selling fairly young little girls around trays peanuts their heads selling attempting tourist souvenirs straw sandals On outside market several shops which leather purses brightly striped straw baskets There informal trading streets outside market People around everything wrist watches jewelry clothing Produce vendors numerous street corners heavily travelled areas Tuareg warriors swoop pulling their swords knives under their robes trying entice Their wares quite elaborate blades Scrap metal springs elegantly etched designs sides handles sheaths carved camel leather stained Gradually walks around comes realize there available knows where If doesn someone street usually willing where whatever might There Western style stores selling imported clothing groceries books stationary supplies electronics Some imported goods quite expensive others comparable prices found States There variety people The numerous people Mossi numerous other represented other parts Upper Volta West Africa Most distinc Tuareg their robes veils Fulsnl women children The latter particularly noticeable healthy young women begging There sizeable population African patriates French other Europeans Americans Chinese Given range ethnic cultural bsckgrounds there considerable range people dress Men commonly Western style pants shirts often tunics pants robes Women however commonly traditional dress consisting shirts often scarves wrappings Voltaic women often short Western style dresses rarely pants shorts Most people sandals These there signs revolution people dress It quite common other colored berets Thom SANKARA CNR T shirts An orange fabric Conseil National Revolution CNR quite popular people dresses shirts tunics pants Lots military fatigues green beige camouflague common I telling military police revolutionary enthusiasts The current government Upper power months August staged small number commandos supporting aptain Thomas ankara government build support There seems quite enthusiasm Ouagadougou psrticulrly among younger people Civen country quite preoccupied these revolutionary developmental concerns I wondering important questions forestry trees Although I Ouagadougou I already exposed forestry The oomite Recherche Forestire nstional Committee Forestry esearch annual meeting Ouagadougou November I invited attend sessions conference overview current forestry activities concerns Volta chance people working The meetings attended forty individuals representing number official groups working forestry research forestry related management The committee meeting annually since researchers managers better informed other activities saare their findings The group organizations represented committee governmental organizations NG0s The government would learn about forestry activities NC0s share information about succeeded failed enhance probabilities successful CO projects The first sions opened D recteur Cnral Conseil National Recherche Scientifique Technologique Nationl Council Scientific Technolo gical Research stressed importance forestry research country overall development efforts The first devoted reports current forestry activities Bois Village village woodlot programs being undertaken United Nations Sudano Sahelian Office The second morning third spent discussing theme conference problem Feux Brousse Fire Bush Four different aspects problem considered legislative aspects preliminary research results US Agency International Development natural forest management project Dienderesso problems rural management particular reference widespread pastoralists farmers usefulness remote sensing research An other topic sociological aspects problem aside reserved special follow meeting within couple monthso The committee concluded meetings affirming position generally negative effects systems Although participants eager begin programs sensibilisation population regarding problem recognized analytical studies before specific recommendations could formu lated The expressed proposals sensibi lisation would formulated forthcoming meeting In discussing possibilities discussion theme meeting several other concerns mentionned research natural forest management better understanding sylvo pastoral systems extent which reboisement reforestation activities could mercialized The discussions research committee meeting demon strated broad appreciation forestry research needed management development country resources However question remains needed research actually carried Before conference I Directeur Institut echerche iologique Ecologique Tropicale Institute Tropical Biological Ecological Research This research council CRST jurisdiction forestry research The Directeur IRBET explained although agreed research priorities forestry extremely small staff their Thus their research goals optimistic realistic While would conduct inventories woody forest produce example recognize would probably years basic descrip research regions country But hopeful might least studies areas years Su research might begin indicate example sorts resources medicinal purposes foods spiritual events resources their local markets women kitchens Having would facilitate analysis social trade involved vsrious management alternatives In thinking about restry management research Africa I pondered contradictions there large problems needs little money staff devote forestry How successful Conseil National Revolution sensibilizing populstion control fires important rural peoples country lacks resources massive fighting efforts Is problem addressed grass roots level How applicable example Smokey Bear style campaign raising public awareness animal other image would grasp imagination How would program other programs Given example government recent emphasis local languages radio transmissions would least languages Examination woody forest produce challenging example these resources women women participate research forestry research committee meetings forty participants women oltaic AS elsewhere world Volta women recently begun study forestry perhaps forestry researchers collaborate extension workers sociologists those other disciplines include women research teams There certainly learn interpret As I balcony I crescents stars spires Grand Mosque across street evening The beginning yellow The temperature cooling There slight breeze harmattan winds Sahara Desert arrived Soon people begin light fires along edges streets Although temperatures pleasant considered season Voltaics jckets evenings early mornings Perhaps I better comprehend after I spent Africa season April May Hope finds enjoying holidays New England snows conifers With skies overhead brown underneathand tropical trees lining streets warmest Christmas Cheers wishes Paula J Williams Forest Society Fellow Received Hanover