Mali – The Salt Caravan |
Timbuktu
in Mali was once a legendary center of trade and culture. Now, Mali has become
one of the world’s poorest countries, however Timbuktu is still a center
for the salt trade. This trade is carried on by nomads in camel caravans, much
as it has been for centuries. These nomads cross the desolate desert with their
heavy blocks of salt from the mines hundreds of miles away. Once salt was worth
as much as gold. Even today it is highly prized.
Photographed in long dramatic shots, the film captures the grandeur and harshness of the desert as well as the strength of those who eke out a living in its harsh solitude. We learn from the miners about the qualities of each layer of salt, how they build their shelters, and the effect of the civil war that has sent many to refugee camps in Mauritania. From the caravan drivers we hear how they navigate their way in the desert, how they care for their camels, and how their families depend on the salt trade for survival.
28 min. Video or DVD. Sale $295. Video rental $55.
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