Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali

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The eighth annual Festival in the Desert (Festival au Desert) took place in Essakane, Mali, on January 10-12, 2008. I made it late the first day, stayed the second day, and had to leave really really early the morning of the last day. So, I missed my most anticipated musician playing at the festival: Tiken Jah Fakoly. I got to experience lots of really good music though.

Campsite, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Attendees Gathering With Camel, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Attendees Gathering and Setting Up Traditional Tents, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali

Sand, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Stage Amidst Sand Dunes, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Tuareg Camel Riders, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali

Local Mali Musicians, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Local Mali Musicians, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Local Mali Musicians, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali

Local Mali Musicians, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Local Mali Musicians, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Local Mali Musicians, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali

Audience Experiencing Local Mali Musicians, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Local Mali Musicians With Camels in Background, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Audience Experiencing Local Mali Musicians, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali

Audience Experiencing Local Mali Musicians, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Dung Beetle Leaving Tracks in the Sand, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Seated Camel With Ornate Saddle and Colorfully Dressed Rider, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali

Veiled Tuareg Men, Their Camels, Donkeys, and Old and New-Style Tents, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Stage, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali

One apparently traditional event at the festival is camel racing. At the same time, with a bunch of jostling in the crowd, a ceremony of women took place, perhaps a form of “dressage” to show off their finery for potential spouses.

Preparing for Camel Race, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Preparing for Camel Race, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Veiled Tuareg Camel Riders Preparing for Camel Race, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali

Hot Camel Butt, Preparing for Camel Race, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Vincent and Senja Milling in Crowd Before Camel Race, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Preparing for Camel Race, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali

Preparing for Camel Race, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Preparing for Camel Race, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali What Does a Camel Gotta Do to Race Around Here, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali

Preparing for Camel Race, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Preparing for Camel Race, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Ritual Involving Seated Women, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali

Ritual Involving Seated Women, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Ritual Involving Seated Women, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Ritual Involving Seated Women, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali

Ritual Involving Seated Women, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Camel Racing, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Camel Racing, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali

Camel Racing, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Camel Racing, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali Camel in Profile, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali

Camel in Silhouette on Dune at Sunset, Festival in the Desert, Essakane, Mali

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