KANO

Tradition and modernity
Inseparable like a mixture
Buy and sell
The city offers more
To engage in and more to marvel at
For saints
For sinners
For the active
For the dormant
It has a place for every one.

March 1998

BAMAKO

FOR MARTINE CHRISTIN

On one side stands the hill of power
On the other the light of learning
In between is a valley so they said
So calm and serene is the valley
That bears beautiful traditional face
And wears an elaborate colonial dress
A dual city of tradition and modernity
A duality that works perfectly that
One walks across space and time
As one walk through the streets of Bamako!
Grand Hotel September 29, 2006