Nature & Simplicity

Nature

When I think of the nature in Western Africa, I think of the Mauritanians who rely on their unique geographical position of desert converging with the ocean, and so breeds the reliance on local fishing as a main source of food. I remember watching, mesmerized, as the local fishermen hauled their small multi-color painted fishing boats through the crashing waves onshore, and into the still waters beyond, where they dutifully anchored and waited for catches.

I think about the subsistence, community-based farming that so many villages depend on in Gambia and Senegal, and how that innate need to rely on the land naturally deepens their resourcefulness and care of the land around them. 

I think about the freshest, juiciest fruits so readily available throughout Morocco, and reliably out for purchase at the local souks (a souk is an Arab marketplace, similar to a bazaar). Never in my life have I tasted dates so decadent, mandarins so citrusy, or avocados so creamy smooth.

I think about the market trade that sweeps the region, where local sellers can profit off of their own handcrafted goods and freshly grown produce, and where local buyers depend on for their weekly grocery run. The dirt-road streets are bustling with stands and tents selling freshly harvested produce, sorted out in a vibrant display of color, the most natural, honest variety of colors that emanate smells of sweet fertility. Bagged nuts and dried fruits are out on tables at every corner you turn for an easily accessible and inexpensive on-the-go snack.

The peanuts are everywhere, and are cultivated fresh from the surrounding agricultural lands and its shells cracked off right from the farmers’ hands. Peanuts and other groundnuts are not only a crucial economic crop for the locals, but also a dietary staple and are incorporated into much of the cuisine, both in Gambia and Senegal.

A main dish integrated into the culture of both countries is called ‘Maafe’, a rice-based cuisine doused in a decadent peanut paste sauce, veggies, and sometimes with fish or chicken incorporated, sometimes without. Nonetheless, a distinctive, flavorful meal that you can often find served from an outdoor tent stand (the best place to find it), prepared swiftly right in front of you, and presented in one of the staple metallic silver bowls.

This was my favorite dish I tried, it is so yummy and unique. A meal so critical to West African culture, comprising ingredients grown and cultivated straight from the grounds of their backyards. Locally grown, locally sourced, a special delicacy whose taste elicits the ubiquity of the harmonious human-land relationships.

I think about all of the baobab trees. How they stand so sturdy and unapologetically in their majesty. Upon further research, I learned that they are also very culturally significant to local communities of West Africa. Known as the “Tree of Life” , they possess an impressive ability to support ecosystems and store water in the often harsh, dry savanna climates. They’re often viewed as spiritually sacred, and sometimes used for ceremonial spots or community or communal meeting spots.

They are naturally resilient and strong, with a lifespan of up to a thousand years. Because of this remarkable longevity, they are regarded as symbols of wisdom and strength. And so they remain sturdy, without the impending threat of deforestation or mass clear cutting to worry about. They're allowed to just grow and be what they are supposed to be and occupy the space that their seeds were set out to grow into.

Simplicity

When I think of simplicity, I think about my Moroccan surf instructor friends who live everyday at the beach, teaching and partaking in surfing, basking out in the sun with a necessary mint tea in hand, and just relishing in some good old fashioned, proper chilling- because what else do you really need in life?

Fully being able to relax and sit still is an artful skill, especially for people who are used to a culture that so quickly villainizes laziness. So to be living around others who promote rest and relaxation and know how truly embody it, was refreshing beyond words. The Moroccans friends of mine have mastered the embrace of simple joys and simple pleasures.

They all know a slower pace of life, people from all of these countries. A life where daily activities center around the very activities that we in America try to speed up to make time for other, more “productive” things. Cooking, browsing the markets, cleaning, meal times together, time outdoors, are all examples of the things West African culture naturally prioritizes, does together, and does so in an intentional, purposeful way.

“Every man for himself” mentality is nonexistent, instead, they live out more of the, “I will so quickly give the shirt off my back for, not only you, but also everyone else that you are with who is involved in the situation” mentality.

For that, I am eternally inspired by the vibrant culture, gracious people, and unceasing acts of community I experienced during my time there. All living out a life in alignment to nature, simplicity, and human connection.

And as I still reel and mourn as my time spent abroad trails off farther and farther behind me, and I situate into the confusing, unprecedented period of unemployment and figuring out where the f*** my life is going, I’ll stay attached to the gratitude and forever moved by it all.