The Sacred Hill

A kilometre outside town there is a sacred hill.  There is a Catholic monastery – well, some monks live there – and there are frequent gatherings for prayers for important occasions like the recent spate of public exams.  Muslims, Protestants, Sankharists as well as Catholics all process there for these are community events – and there is a huge area given over to prayers which overlooks town and an immense swathe of savannah, across the Bougouriba river to distant hills (probably also sacred to their near neighbours). I shall get up there with a real camera soon as it makes Diebougou look rather greener and more salubrious than you would imagine from my constant whining about the heat! Simon, Kadi and I snuck off there after a very delicate meeting with l'Action Sociale - social services BF style - where much murmuring had been done.   We also found an old chapel and a meadow which was magical, as it has only just appeared, and the green was so fresh it was hazing in a sort of mist above the grass.  Away from the large platform and electric lights, this area was much more to my taste, but with less spectacular views.  

 

 

The delicate meeting had to be conducted in murmurs as that is how it is done here.  The more powerful one is, the more quietly one talks so that the underlings are forced to lean inwards attentively.  I wish someone would tell the pastor opposite my house!

 

To get to the sacred hill, we had to cross the marigot (swampy pond to you and me) which is where the sacred crocodiles live.  They only come out in the morning, apparently, so my return visit will have to be at crack of dawn.  Bet you can't wait for a picture of the sacred crocodiles!