On the plane I was looking to see how far we still had to go. I turn on the screen and look at the map to see Timbuktu. I thought to myself, funny! I never thought I would ever get so closed to Timbuktu in my life. When people used to ask me - Where are you going ? And I didn’t feel like answering - I’d say Timbuktu.

On the flight map I notice the Tombs of Askia. These tombs are actually located in Gao, Mali and believed to be the burial place of Askia Mohammad I, one of the Songhai Empire’s most prolific emperors. It was built at the end of the fifteenth century and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then I saw the pin point of the Ancient Ksour of Ouadane; this was founded in the 11th and 12th centuries to serve the caravans crossing the Sahara. They illustrate a traditional way of life centred on the nomadic culture of the people of the western Sahara. These are all places on my bucket list and I must go visit them.

Burkina Faso was actually never on my list of places to go till this summer when I was on the flight from Brussels to Accra reading in the ‘inspired’ magazine of Brussels Airlines. There was a big article on Burkina Faso and it’s many mini- islands. I had taken pictures and said I need to go there one day. In the magazine I saw the photo series of Alexandre Eudier. He shot a series of photographs in Burkina Faso while using local traditional crafts to reinterpret pop culture. Alexandre, the artist wanted to merge African clichés with familiar symbols of consumerism and new technologies, thereby creating situations that question the images we see in the media. (See photos below.) It is very lovely.

I am pleasantly surprised with the food on the plane. I forgot the tell the office that I have a special meal request of Jain food. Not because of religious preference but due to the fact that I find plane food horrendous. At least Jain food is flavorful with its blend of spices. This way at least I don’t get nauseous on the plane. However, as I forgot the specialized meal; I was given a plane ole chicken rice dish. To my great surprise; the chicken & rice were spicy and had side dish of okra flavored to the African palette. Tops for SN Brussels this time around ! Hopefully it’s like that now on all Africa flights. I am totally missing the point here talking about the plane food and god knows what.

I want to talk about the mission and why we are going there but I guess I leave it for a next blog moment.

BIEN ARRIVE à Ouagadougou she says! Its 38 degrees outside and no air. Welcome mama Africa!