Crossing of The Cattle

The Niger River means many things to people in Mali. And one of the Malian culture, customs, and etiquette related to this river is the Cattle Crossing. This is a festival that happens every year in Diafarabé when the Fulani people celebrate the return of their young men and the cattle they've been herding on grazing lands across the river. The boys' cattle are then judged, and prizes are given. Girls in Diafarabé look forward to the festival for another reason. It's their chance to see their boyfriends again.

For the boys, the crossing can be a nerve-wracking time. When the animals come back, they are driven into a large open space at one end of the town where there is a panel that judges them to decide whose animals are fat, in other words, whose animals have been best cared for. If your animals have judged the best-kept herd you're the winner, and the community gives you prizes: a special blanket, a robe, and many other gifts. The last word in the judging is always with the vet. The boy with the worst-kept herd is given a peanut, which is quite a shameful thing.