James Morris

This series of photographs by James Morris, threaded through the Corderie, made during 1999 and 2000, explores the culture of adobe architecture from the Sahal region of West Africa, and specifically Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Ghana, and Burkina Faso.
The word ‘Sahel’ in Arabic means coast or shore. The sea lapping this shore is the Sahara Desert. The ‘port’ cities of Segou, Mopti, Djenne, Gao, Agadez, and Timbuktu were at times trading and political centres of great wealth and power; Ancient Ghana, the Mali and Bamana Empires, the Songhay, Fulani and Tukulor Dynasties.
Though part of long traditions and ancient cultures, these are at the same time contemporary structures, serving a current purpose. If they lost their relevance and were neglected, they would collapse. The maintaining and resurfacing of buildings is part of the rhythm of life; there is an ongoing, active participation in their continued existence.

With the additional support of
African Futures Institute