Seasons

The dry season is a time for building. A family- typically the male head of household- will first buy a plot of land. Gradually one room, then another will be built, additions made as money allows and the needs of a growing extended family have to be met. The owner is free to build and develop as he sees fit within his land boundary.

Bricks are hand made uses a simple mold, from concrete and sand, then watered daily as they dry.

Making the building materials- blocks are increasingly used in construction, then finished with a covering of mixed sand and clay. (photo-internet)

A neighbour stands by her newly made bricks- later the family compound will be extended.

While some families hire a "mason" to build, others use their own skills to add new rooms. This extension was completed a week later, when the zinc sheet roofing was added.

This grain store is made using local clay and sand- the prepared balls of clay are passed and then smoothed and molded into place.

And now, as May runs towards June, and occasional showers become more frequent, the time for soil preparation has come. This weekend, I saw, as I travelled from Zebilla to Bolgatanga, men, women and children tilling plots near to homes, preparing drills and planting seeds collected from the previous harvest.

Subsistence farming- family plots are cultivated, using basic tools  and time honoured methods- as long as the rains come, followed by hot sun to ripen, a harvest will yield enough to keep the family fed for the year.

Animals: domesticated 2

The patient, gentle donkey:- younger boys ride them like cowboys.

Larger animals to be seen everywhere include cows, which are extremely valued, and donkeys, used for labour and transport, though gradually being replaced by the three wheeled motorking.

Donkey and metal cart- young children quickly learn to handle the donkey and to transport goods to mark

The adaptable motorking- the new workhorse of northern Ghana- this picture taken on the main road into Tamale.

Although there are few fences, no squared pattern of fields, no clear land boundaries other then the clay walls surrounding traditional compound houses, I am still surprised if I open the door to leave my house and a large cow walks straight past me. Why?

And finally- another domesticated animal, infrequently seen, favoured by tribesmen from Niger with nomadic habits:-the camel.

I was keeping a safe distance from the long strong legs.

The rider sits to one side of the saddle, using a stick, but also his feet to give instruction and direction to the animal. I like the handbag, slung over the saddle. Camels and their riders are welcomed in Zebilla- I have seen one man gallop with camel from house to house, requesting small offerings of food.

Animals:domesticated

In the smaller towns and villages of northern Ghana, most households keep some domesticated animals for food,as a security against harder times and for gifts to be offered for weddings and funerals. During the dry, non- growing season, most animals are un-tethered and roam, "free range", although everyone knows who each animal belongs to.

Wandering past my house each day and night will be:

goats-this picture was taken when the maize was ripening, and shows the destruction goats cause if let loose. Most of the time, goats appear to have great fun, running around, eating, and following their reputedly lusty goat instincts.-;

ducks-mother and ducklings take a bath, though as water becomes scarce, the ducks  follow the retreating water;

fowl-(chickens)- this one sprayed a rather fetching shade of pink for easy identification;

guinea fowl-surprisingly noisy creatures;

pigs-this one is almost camouflaged as it sleeps in the welcome shadow of  hollowed out tree roots, within a dried stream bed- pigs are also extremely noisy when running around and when eating, somewhat disturbing when awakened in the small hours by strange sounds immediately outside my bedroom window.

Market trading- animals are bought and sold live at local markets- every third day is a market day. The trading is always done by men. (photo-internet) Meat from many animal sources is popular- in addition to fowl, goat, cow, pig, available also dog and "bush meat" which covers any animal not domesticated.

How to transport a live animal- my friend Fati demonstrates. A goat can be secured within a basket or large bowl and fastened to the back of the moto.