SheJumper checks in from Africa

Claire Smallwood

Our friend Claire Smallwood (skier extraordinaire and student) sent us a dispatch from Senegal, Africa, where she is studying a group of people called Griots. They are the lowest caste of the Senegalese society, but also powerful people. "Griots are fascinating to me because they use their language as a form of economy," wrote Claire in her SheJumps profile. "By complimenting people in their society (by knowing their full family history), they are able to maintain a job just by talking because people are socially obligated to pay them for their service. Griots maintain a narrative of return for Senegalese people. I try to imagine how this sort of practice could manifest itself in our society." Her adventures are just beginning. If anyone asks me in the next indefinite amount of time - and that is to say until I forget - driving in Dakar is one of my favorite activities. I won't deny that it is very very sketchy but I have never seen an accident. Where to start? OK, well the thing of importance I can tell you about my research project is that I have interviewed the head of radio in Senegal and he is just dandy. We had some conversations about how Griots are modernizing themselves by pretending to know family histories and profiting from the money they receive. All of my interviews with everyone else tells me different, but oh well. I went to a traditional wrestling match on Sunday, which will be the focus of my project. The Griots were the main attraction. They maintain the glory and the story of the match. This particular traditional (not Greco Roman) match was between Tyson and Bombardier. Hilarious names to fit with a hilarious scene. The most incredible synthesis of modern and old I have ever witnessed. People were wearing American flags from head to toe because Tyson has made tradtional wrestling cool again by taking the name of Mike Tyson, hence the American flag get up. Anyways, I am pretty fascinated and have been following the controversy regarding the match as much as possible because Tyson actually just fled when the referees called rematch. In the parking lot, and all the way home, and actually until now on Thursday night, it is STILL being discussed rather heatedly. And the hilarious thing is that people are LOVING it. I am stoked to find out what Tyson's Griots would say about him after he fled like a coward???? Griots, by the way, I actually call Gewels now, which is the Wolof word. Honestly I speak better Wolof than French now, isn't that useful? I got my hair braided again and seriously regret it. It's so heavy and uncomfortable but I fit in a little bettter with my tripod and digital video camera. I am staying with my friends who take good care of me and are helping me a lot other than that I have not had enough time to do any of the things I want to do, but "cest comme ca." Every day is me and my camera and Dakar and our relationship improves every time. People are way more open to the camera than I would have thought and that is to say that they still hate it. Hahahaa. I hear it's dumping in your parts of the world. Ski one for me. Much love and energy, from the origin "bantbundaw."

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SheJumper checks in from Africa

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