Nomads on the river: Mali's fishermen threatened by change

Abstract

The traditional livelihoods and culture of Mali's fisherman who live along the shores of the Niger River are threatened by a multiplicity of forces. A brief summary of the history of the Bozo people who have fished the Niger for centuries is given including their transition to Islam in the 18th century. The Bozo people demonstrate the blending of Muslim and African cultures in their way of life. The annual nature of their nomadic lifestyle is described following the flood waters in order to catch enough fish to sell at markets as far away as the Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana. The changing attitudes of the new generation are contrasted with the more traditional outlook of the old. (CAB Abstract)