Seasons.

Mid January- scene taken from the hills above Zebilla, marking the border with Burkina Faso. The hazy air is due to the Harmattan winds blowing sand from the Sahara. The Zinc roofs of the houses reflect the sunshine.

In northern Ghana there are two seasons: the rainy season lasts from April to August/ September; the dry season takes up the rest of the months. During the latter period, unless they have access to irrigation, for local farmers, this is a “rest” period in terms of cultivation, but for anyone with the means, building work to extend the family home is carried out. Dried and stored maize ensures a staple food source for the duration.

The simple predictability of the dry season weather, with temperatures cooler before and just after dawn  (especially when the Harmattan wind blows down from the Sahara) gives a pattern and stability to each day.

Late September, and the maize crop is taller than the children

By early November the maize has been gathered, but the grass remains  for grazing animals.  A road in Zebilla.

Late January. The parched ground leading to a compound, with  scorched stubble. Dwarfing the settlement, a fallen boabob tree.

Our neighbour hires a builder, who makes bricks from sand and cement.  Once moulded, they are watered twice a day until completely dried, then stacked ready for construction.

Harvested maize, drying within a compound.

Husks are stripped by hand, and saved for fuel.

Family compound- the building in the foreground is the grain store.  Dried sheaves provide fodder for animals.