About once a month my PCV neighbor and I plan an outing or fun activity
together. We’ve gone hiking, made natural beauty products, and often cook fun
meals from scratch (which includes doing most of our own food processing).
One time pizza was on our menu. Though we could make the tomato sauce and
bread from scratch with no problem, the cheese proved to be a real challenge. Even
when we followed the most basic recipes on Google the cheese we produced was
mediocre at best.
The problem was that most of the recipes just weren’t applicable to our
living context. To make cheese, the popular sites read: “use rennet tablets”, “put
it in the microwave” or “measure temperatures with a candy thermometer.” All
great ideas for cheese making in The Developed world.
 |
| Fulani boys walking us to the road |
But cheese exists here too. It’s made by one of the world’s largest (some
say the largest) nomadic people
called the Fulani. They walk throughout West Africa, and while they keep their
baggage light, they bring hundreds of cows along with them. Consequently, the
towns they pass through get fresh milk and cheese access.
To make cheese here, we knew the Fulani had to use basic, easy to find
ingredients. To find out their secrets, we scheduled an outing to where they
live. However, because they have so many cows, their camps are in the farthest,
most remote locations. To get there, we took a15-20 kilometer motorcycle ride outside the city limits on an extremely bumpy
road. Then we walked another 2-3 kilometers so far en brousse, in the bush, that we assumed
we were lost.
But we weren’t lost. This is where the Fulani lived.
There were about 50 people at the site, a simple camp area. The
space wasn’t cleared—we were still in the middle of nowhere. Yet, it was a
great place to be. Aside from being secluded, it was well shaded and quite
verdant.
The first thing we noticed were their tents. They can be more accurately
described as thick black plastics covering a bed. Their bed being a mat
elevated by a few logs. That was it. And each person kept their possessions
few, with nothing larger than what could fit in their roughly 5’ by 3’ tent.
 |
| One of the Fulani tents |
This was just my first, quick observation but within minutes I was
presented with another. The other PCV and I were approached by the beautiful faces
of Fulani men first, then the older children. Their characteristics contrasted
many of those in the Togolese. They walked toward us in their slender bodies
with pointed features, facial tattoos, and brightly colored clothes and
jewelry.
We stayed with the men for a few minutes, but quickly ventured off to see
the women. There, we found the youngest kids of the group. Again, I was stunned
by the beauty of this people. They often wear eyeliner (even the kids), keep
their hair braided in some funky styles, (though always natural, never adding
extensions), and wore brightly colored beaded jewelry. A common feature of all
of the people—men, women and children was their set of big, glistening eyes. They
shone with what seemed to be deep curiosity and happiness.
 |
| A Fulani woman at my local market |
This was the Africa and the Peace Corps I was expecting to come to. Being
secluded in lands quite literally off the beaten path, and surrounded by such
an exotic culture and language I didn’t understand. Being with the Fulani felt
like I stepped into an entirely different world.
In this world, living off the land and raising animals was all that
concerned them. Yes, they sold cows for upwards of $1400 USD, and even sold one for $700 USD
during our visit, but it didn’t seem like any of that really mattered to them.
What seemed more important was just living life and being around family. Simply
to occupy their free time you might find them milking cows, or making cheese.
Yet, this brings me of one of the battles we fight as PCVs; our push for
education. During this trip it dawned on me that not a single one of these
people had been to school. Many of the adults and most of the young children
have never been exposed to technology outside of a cell phone (they were amazed
with our cameras). One young girl was even astonished to see me drink from a
plastic sachet of water I brought with me.
When my young translator explained “she’s never seen it before” I stopped
to inspect the area. In towns, the plastic water satchets are one of the most
common pieces of litter. But here, not a single piece of trash could be found
on the ground.
After all, what non-compostable piece of trash would they have? The only
thing littering the area were cow patties, something the Fulani seemed to
simply disregard. During a conversation I tried to have with some of the kids,
they listened to my French (a language they don’t speak) while kneeling over
cow patties and didn’t seem fazed by it at all.
This Eden blew my mind. These people seemed to defy all the rules in life
and yet they had it all. While not formal, they have a quite rich education. It
focuses on the practical, useful everyday necessities of their life. Preferring
what plants do what things rather than keeping up with the latest technological
trends. They also know how to survive with little food or water, and have this
innate ability of knowing the right direction after coming to a place just one
time.
Plus, they had 100% freedom and more money than they could ever need. They
just pick up and go for months, or years at a time. The only things they
discover in their paths are willing cow, milk and cheese buyers.
Even at the end of my trip, I never figured out what they do with their money.
They make enough from one cow to purchase a motorcycle or cheap used car (and
they have herds of 200 cows or more). However, they choose to keep
their wants and needs few. After all, who would want to carry any extra stuff
for such long treks?
I pondered this throughout our visit, but most as we were find our way
out. How many more of these places exist in the tiny Togo. But, before too long, we arrived at that bumpy
road we motoed. Then, the midday heat struck me as if to say “welcome back to
the real world.” At least I exited with some
proof it exists—a new cheese making skill.
 |
| Cheese the Fulani made during our trip |
.JPG)
