Last night I sat on the President of America.

We are upholstering the restaurant chairs with their customary bright African wax-cloth. Yesterday I trawled Djenne market for fun fabrics.
Barak Obama is of course a big hero here so what better likeness than his to adorn the chairs?

It is encourageing that in all the confusion which arises when two cultures meet (and I sometimes feel as alien here as if I had landed on Mars) there are many meeting points. Last night when I sat down on the face of Barack Obama was just one such heartwarming moment. Everyone present laughed until tears rolled down our cheeks, and Beigna said:' I am sure there are CIA satellites up there somewhere, recording this sort of misdemeanour!