Ancient Walata

Its from the end of the XIX century that those towns loose their importance becoming places that are hard to find. Until then they were placed in the trade routes and caravans of camels used to cross them. Today gouvernment efforts and a small tourist industry maintain some life in those places.



Walata, like Chinguetti and Wadane, is part of the World Heritage and a Unesco's site. For its inhabitants life use to go as always.



But Walata is special, as its unique in its decoration not exhisting anything like in the surrounding countries.



The red clay and the pigments are found all around the village being dug from mines.



Those small objects are toys and burners that women have been doing for centuries. Doll houses are also done you can see an example here.

Animals roam freely into the patios of the houses looking for bits to eat.

From early age young girls start helping their mum's and is a common sight to see them carrying their younger brothers or sisters in their backs.

This is the view you have from Walata looking across the dry river bed and into the heights. The rectangular building used to be know in the old dictator's time as a political prison where torture was practised and where many detractors died.

Sidi makes a cow with a bit of clay he wants to show as women that he can also master the work.