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The village of Songo today: Agriculture, traditional crafts and tourism Agriculture is the main source of income for the people of Songo. The village is surrounded by dozens of fields, in which various grains are grown, such as sorghum, millet and fonio, as well as other plants, such as maize, peanuts and beans. Of these, millet is the most important crop for the economy of Songo. The tilling season for millet begins in June, while the harvesting period commences in November. In between, in September and October, young men often search for temporary work in the cities, and return to Songo for the millet harvest. Gardening begins in the month of December, when vegetables, such as onions and peppers are grown. Generally, farmers produce for their own subsistence, and any surplus is sold in local markets. In January many men and women leave Songo to harvest rice in the wetter regions of Mali. Upon their return towards the end of the dry season, houses and granaries are repaired, and fields are prepared for the new season. In addition to agriculture, some crafts have varying significance for the village. Weaving has diminished in importance since the introduction of industrially made cloth. There are, however, several locations in the village where weaving is still practiced by older men. Today, cloth is made mostly for sale in local markets or for sale directly to tourists. There is no leatherworker in Songo, and local demand is met by those in Bandiagara. Metal and wooden items, both for locals and for tourists, are made by a local blacksmith. Tourism has gained in importance during the past 20 years. It has become a considerable source of income for the village since the establishment of a village-run tourist camp and the introduction of a tax to be paid by each tourist visiting Kondi Pegue, the circumcision site. | |
