Style and Personality

Togo, West Africa  2000

It was almost dark when we arrived at this market.  This lovely young girl was staying until she sold the last of her tomatoes. She was surprised to have me take her photo as she walked through the thin crowd. Surprised but pleased. She turned to me and I got this shot, with her tilted tray making a good substitute for a hat set at a flattering angle. The full sleeves of her dress add to the aura of an early 1900’s style. I darkened the busy market scene behind her to make her ‘pop’ out of the scene.

Her eyes! Aren’t they riveting?

Day-O-Day-O!

Lome, Togo.

Lome is a huge market: like our flea markets. Some vendors have stalls, some have umbrellas for cover and some stroll through the market carrying their merchandise on their head.  Here a youngish woman carries 20 or 30…maybe more…pounds of bananas on her head. She saunters through the market, greeting friends and neighbors and doesn’t give any indication of the weight she is carrying. Come to think of it, I don’t think I ever saw an African woman with osteoporosis. Their bones must be like steel.  

 You have to be old to know what the “Day-O-Day-O” title means. In the 60’s (maybe) Harry Belafonte sang a song about a man who carried bananas and that was the refrain. The song was very popular. You couldn’t get “Day-O” out of your head. I didn’t like the song, but I’m sure I hummed it all day after hearing it on the radio in the morning.