mucha gente aquí habla sobre las otras
etnias: que si los mandingas son unos vagos (se refieren a los
hombres claro), que si los fulas destrozaron el imperio mandinga; que
si los balantas han convertido el país el suyo por medio de
adueñarse del ejercito; que si son unos borrachos... Todos
despotrican de todos. Sin embargo, todos conviven, sobre todo en las
ciudades de manera no sólo pacifica, sino amistosa. Los barrios en
Bissau, han forzado a una mezcla que no sucede en las tabancas
(aldeas). En estas, si hay dos o más etnias diferentes, están
físicamente separadas en barrios, incluso en aldeas pequeñas. Pero
en las ciudades, esta segregación no sucede, lo que permite que las
etnias se mezclen de una forma, en mi opinión muy enriquecedora.
Hace años, según dicen, no era común conocer a alguien cuyo padre
y madre no fueran de la misma etnia. Sin embargo, actualmente, es
algo ya asumido como normal por la población.
En esta sociedad, con los problemas
militares, gubernamentales y económicos que padecen, no se atisba el
más mínimo brote de violencia o crimen. Un blanco, y no yo que
llevo ropa rota, rastas y el único vehículo que conduzco es una
bicicleta de finales de los 80, que entra en un barrio como pilung o
luanda, en muchos otros países es posible que sufrirían robos a
punta de navaja o pistola, en cambio, aquí, todos los blancos tienen
la misma opinión: nunca he tenido ningún problema. El único robo
del que tengo conocimiento, le sucedió a un francés, más ebrio que
un pamplones durante estos días, en el medio de Bissau, a las 4 de
la mañana, y arrastrando su mochila y bolso, fue atracado.
Normal....
El tema de que los mandingas son unos
vagos... Me gustaría comentar este punto, pues yo he convivido en
una tabanca mandinga unos meses, y creo que entiendo el asunto:
excluyamos a las mujeres, pues nadie con media neurona podría decir
que no trabajan. En cambio, los hombres, tradicionalmente, han vivido
del trabajo de las mujeres, eventualmente desarrollando trabajos
forzados como la construcción, adquisición de materiales como
arena... Sin embargo, quiero pensar que las cosas están cambiando.
Al menos esto es cierto en muchos casos. Ansu y Suaré, dos hombres
de Gambasse, me han estado pidiendo que vaya a visitarlos en su
trabajo de extracción de arena para la construcción. Me comentaban
que las condiciones eran dignas de los esclavos de hace siglos. Y en
parte tienen razón, sobre todo en el tema de seguridad y salario.
Les pagan 2000FCFA a cada uno por llenar un camión de arena. Lo
llenan entre 3 hombres, en aproximadamente 5 horas, pero a un ritmo
de trabajo que nunca había presenciado. Miento. Si lo he visto
antes: en las estropadas.
Así que no puedo decir que son unos
vagos. Que debido a la escasa educación y tradiciones culturales, no
tengan la iniciativa necesaria es otra cosa, pero todo puede cambiar,
Inchallah (si dios quiere...)
Pasado mañana empieza el Djun-Djun,
ramadam en criolo. Uno de los cinco pilares de la religión
musulmana. Hay una parte que me gusta de esto: que equipara a ricos y
a pobres en el ayuno de día (tampoco se puede beber agua!!! están
locos.... dicho con todo el respeto!), y les aporta una idea de lo
que es pasar hambre, para que cuando durante el resto del año vean a
alguien que pide comida, recuerden ese estado, y les haga donar parte
de lo que tienen. Sin embargo, hay muchos aspectos que no me gustan,
que prefiero no comentar aquí.
solo quería comentar esto, que llevaba
tiempo pensando, y así aprovecho y pongo las fotos de esta gente
currando a destajo, bajo unas condiciones, que le deseo a mucha
gente, entre ellos Bárcenas, el rey de España, y tantos otros. :-)
un abrazo!!!
many people here talk about
other ethnic groups, that if the Mandingo are lazy (refering to men
of course), that if the Fulas destroyed the Mandinka Empire, that if
the Balantas have made the country their own through the army take
over , that if are drunkards ... However, all coexist, especially in
the cities not only peacefully, but in a friendly way. The districts
in Bissau, have forced a mixture that does not happen in the tabancas
(villages). In these, if there are two or more different ethnic
groups, neighborhoods are physically separated, even in small
villages. But in the cities, this segregation does not happen,
allowing mixed ethnicities in a way, in my opinion very enriching.
Years ago, they say, it was not common to meet someone whose father
and mother were not of the same ethnicity. However, today, it's
already assumed as normal for the population.
In this society, the problems with the army, government and economic struggle, does not emerge the slightest outbreak of violence or crime. A white, not me that I wear torn clothes, dreadlocks and the only vehicule I ride is a bike of late 80s, who enters in a neighborhood like Pilung or Luanda, in many other countries may get mugged with a knife or a gun, however, here, all foreigners have the same opinion: I've never had any problems. The only theft of which I have knowledge, happened to a French, drunker than a guy from Pamplona during these days, in the middle of Bissau, at 4 at night, dragging his backpack and purse, was docked. Normal ....
The theme of the Mandingo are lazy ... I would like to do some comments concerning this point: I have lived on a Mandinka tabanca few months and I think I understand a little bit the issue: we exclude women, because no one with half a neuron could say they do not work. In contrast, men have traditionally lived off the labor of women, eventually developing labor such as construction, procurement of materials like sand ... However, I think (hope too!!!) things are changing. At least this is true in many cases. Ansu and Suare, two men from Gambasse, have been asking me to go and visit them while working in sand mining for construction. They commented that the conditions were worthy of slaves centuries ago. And they are right, especially concerning security and salary. They are payed 2000FCFA each one for filling each sand truck. They fill it between 3 men, in about five hours, but the pace of work I had never witnessed it before. Sorry, I'm liying. If you've seen before in estropadas, they've row at the same pace.
So I can not say that they are lazy. Due to poor education and cultural traditions that they do not have the necessary initiative is another thing, but everything can change, Inchallah (God willing ...)
Tomorrow begins the Djun-Djun, ramadam in criolo. One of the five pillars of Islam. There is a part that I like about this, that equates rich and poor in the fasting day (neither can drink water! they're crazy .... said with all due respect), and gives them an idea of how do you feel when you've got hunger, for that when the rest of the year you see someone who asks for food, you remember that state, and makes you donate part of what you have. However, there are many aspects that I do not like, and I prefer not to comment them here.
just wanted to say this, that had long been thinking about it, and also I include the pictures of these people working under conditions that I wish for a lot of people, including Barcenas, the King of Spain, and many more motherfuchers like them :-)
a hug!
In this society, the problems with the army, government and economic struggle, does not emerge the slightest outbreak of violence or crime. A white, not me that I wear torn clothes, dreadlocks and the only vehicule I ride is a bike of late 80s, who enters in a neighborhood like Pilung or Luanda, in many other countries may get mugged with a knife or a gun, however, here, all foreigners have the same opinion: I've never had any problems. The only theft of which I have knowledge, happened to a French, drunker than a guy from Pamplona during these days, in the middle of Bissau, at 4 at night, dragging his backpack and purse, was docked. Normal ....
The theme of the Mandingo are lazy ... I would like to do some comments concerning this point: I have lived on a Mandinka tabanca few months and I think I understand a little bit the issue: we exclude women, because no one with half a neuron could say they do not work. In contrast, men have traditionally lived off the labor of women, eventually developing labor such as construction, procurement of materials like sand ... However, I think (hope too!!!) things are changing. At least this is true in many cases. Ansu and Suare, two men from Gambasse, have been asking me to go and visit them while working in sand mining for construction. They commented that the conditions were worthy of slaves centuries ago. And they are right, especially concerning security and salary. They are payed 2000FCFA each one for filling each sand truck. They fill it between 3 men, in about five hours, but the pace of work I had never witnessed it before. Sorry, I'm liying. If you've seen before in estropadas, they've row at the same pace.
So I can not say that they are lazy. Due to poor education and cultural traditions that they do not have the necessary initiative is another thing, but everything can change, Inchallah (God willing ...)
Tomorrow begins the Djun-Djun, ramadam in criolo. One of the five pillars of Islam. There is a part that I like about this, that equates rich and poor in the fasting day (neither can drink water! they're crazy .... said with all due respect), and gives them an idea of how do you feel when you've got hunger, for that when the rest of the year you see someone who asks for food, you remember that state, and makes you donate part of what you have. However, there are many aspects that I do not like, and I prefer not to comment them here.
just wanted to say this, that had long been thinking about it, and also I include the pictures of these people working under conditions that I wish for a lot of people, including Barcenas, the King of Spain, and many more motherfuchers like them :-)
a hug!
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