Winds of Sand, Women of Rock

The camel died of an infection.

- The rope was too tight.

Who's the owner?

- Tenna.

Let's catch the little one.

- Yes, we'd better.

SOUTH SAHARA, NIGER

Let the camel stand up.

OK, unleash her.

This camel is upset.

Look for a calmer one.

Let the baby go to the other side.

Hold her tight, she's afraid.

The milk is flowing.

Stop her.

Amina, let me tie it here first.

Every year after the rains,

women from different camps

come together to travel,

taking one or two camels

and a few donkeys and goats,

if they have any.

They set off for the Bilma oasis

to harvest the dates.

Together, we go from here

to the Bilma oasis.

God bless you.

- And the dead of this world?

How are you?

- I'm fine.

Anything wrong?

- Everything's fine.

And you? You're OK?

- Yes, I'm fine.

How are you?

- How are you?

Nobody is ill?

- Everyone's fine.

How are your neighbours?

- They're fine.

Have a seat!

I'll leave in five days.

We'll come too, with some goats

to sell at the market.

The rest of the animals

will stay with our neighbours.

We'll start packing.

We have already stored our wood.

Now we must pack, roll the mats

and take down the tents.

Then we'll be ready.

I wanted to bring two goats

but they died during the storm.

Because of the rain?

- Yes, those three days were bad.

Two goats and a horse

died in the storm.

My God!

Really?

But you still own 2 donkeys?

- Yes.

So God protected you

from something even worse.

The storm ripped off the tent

and broke the horse's neck.

Blood came out of its nose.

Well...

May God help us

through our journey.

May God help us.

Mariama, what nice sand

in your hair!

Did you put it in yourself?

- No.

Who did?

- Dakko put it in my two big braids.

The daughter of Kondoi is beautiful

She belongs to a noble clan

You know, Amina, when the Kondoi girl

was kidnapped for her wedding,

her veil was loose and the men

were so struck by her beauty

that they forgot about kidnapping her!

- Really?

After the caravan

when will you go home?

Not before the end of Ramadan.

As late as possible.

So, you're "avoiding your husband",

as they say in the song.

What good is he to me?

Your parents gave you to the wrong one?

- Yes.

What's wrong with him?

- I don't want a man from the desert.

So, Mariama, you're a runaway,

you're fleeing your husband?

Mind your hand, mum!

My God, it's burning hot!

My bag is really heavy.

You are taking too many things.

It's quite full.

- It's too much.

It's big enough,

it can take all my stuff.

Why are you taking it all, Amina?

I want everything with me.

- Why?

I may need it all.

What did you say?

Are they worn out?

They're OK.

I think these batteries

will last the whole trip.

- Yes.

Leave at least

four strong branches here.

What?

- Leave four branches. Strong ones.

What are you doing?

Bring it here.

It's heavy.

- Why carry it, then? Give it to me.

Take another stick.

Have you not found your camel?

- Not yet.

If I find my camel,

we will leave together.

Yes, let's stay together.

When your camels finish drinking,

move them so mine can drink.

Yes, OK.

Women have always done the caravan.

We are not afraid.

We can take care of ourselves.

We know the road well.

We prefer to travel without men.

When we leave the men

take the other camels to the pastures.

From here to the Bezze Denga well

it's a 3-day walk.

From Bezze Dengato the Agadem well,

it's 2 days.

From Agadem to the Dibella well,

From Dibellato the Zoobaba well,

also 3 days.

From Zoobabato Bilma,

That makes 13 days.

But with the stops,

it takes up to 3 weeks.

These are dunes.

Another dune here.

And a dune here.

It won't be easy.

The journey will be long

and full of obstacles.

The road to Bilma is hard,

drought is everywhere,

but we are eager to go.

Issai, don't let it go away!

DAY 1, MIDDAY BREAK

The wind is burning my face.

Tighten the rope.

Where have our goats gone?

The water's boiling.

Where's that girl?

Gone to get the millet?

Is it boiling?

- Yes, I'm waiting for her.

She won't be long.

How do you say 'bag' in French?

- How, Mariama?

Le sac.

- Le sac.

How do you say 'water'?

- Water? 'De l'eau.'

The containers?

- 'Les tasses.'

How do you say 'sugar'?

- 'Le sucre.'

Les chaussures.

- Les chaussures.

And this?

Un bb.

- Bb.

And this? Le parfum.

- Le parfum.

What's this?

Le bijou.

- Le bijou.

And this here?

Les tresses.

- Les tresses.

OK, that's it.

Put it on top, mum.

Here, take your knife.

Look at my feet!

I already have blisters

and they've burst.

My blisters have burst too.

The skin is cracked.

After I sell my dates, I'll buy

some perfume products in town,

and I will try to start a business.

If I find a cheap house,

I'll buy it.

You'll leave the Sahara?

- Life's too hard here.

I am sick of doing this trip every year

to collect dates in Bilma.

And then the whole trip back.

In the Sahara we never rest.

When men are not there we even have

to find the lost camels

and draw water from the well.

The hardship makes you ugly,

you get chapped skin

and your body dries out.

You lose your charm.

- We don't have kids to raise,

we could try to start a business.

Alone you can get by.

With the money from the dates

I want to buy clothes and food

but above all, go back to school.

You need savings, to study.

Yes, I will try to study

and work at the same time.

If I finish my studies, I'll work

and lead my own life.

I could be a doctor,

or something like that.

I'll see.

That's a nice project.

Does your husband agree?

If he doesn't, I can't do it.

Down!

What a fuss!

Tie him tight.

- He nearly got away.

DAY 5, 140 KM

AGADEM WELL:

Go on, move...

Ata, what are you doing?

When we get to Bilma

with our goats and donkeys,

do you know what I'll do?

You'll make money, just like us.

Do goats sell well?

- That's what I've heard.

You know what we'll eat?

Something really delicious!

Our purses will be full,

let's spoil ourselves.

Once we've sold the goats

and got some money,

we can buy whatever we want.

Let's decide the price

for our animals.

Between 35 and 40,000 (60 )

for a donkey.

Listen,

as soon as we get to Bilma...

we'll buy some nice clothes.

Let's pamper ourselves.

Let's do that and show off.

This dress is full of sweat.

I am almost done.

- I only have one more piece to wash.

Last year,

we went to a wedding in Bilma.

It was amazing.

That's how it is in town.

It was a beautiful choreography,

led by three girls.

In Bilma, dances are great,

everyone gathers there.

- In the Sahara,

dances are more simple.

When they kidnap a bride,

why do they chain her feet

for seven days?

So she can't escape.

- But they've already got her.

They'd never leave her free.

Some women refuse their husband

and sleep in the bush

for 2 years. What a life!

They will never stop this tradition.

- No, they won't.

They always beat the bride.

So when she can, she runs away.

Come on, why are you so slow?

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