Stilt Village.

So I'm trying to play catch up on my blog entries... this took place a few weekends ago. A group of us went to Ganvie Stilt village, about an hour boat ride from Cotonu. 30,000 people from the Tofinu tribe live in bamboo huts on stilts, about 6 feet above Lake Nokoue. The stilt village was built to escape enslavement from a neighboring tribe called the Fon. The Fon people believed the water was cursed so they would not fight over it. Therefore, the Tofinu people lived safely thanks to the water below them. In Tofinu, Ganvie translates to "those who finally found peace." In Ganvie, everyone travels by handmade canoes to the various homes, school, medical clinic, hotels, bars, beauty shops, and even the local post office. Each family has their own lot of water on which to fish.Fishing drives the economy as evidenced by the many fishermen casting their nets on the hour long boat ride north out of Cotonou. The people of Ganvie plant branches on the bottom of the lagoon and as the brach leaves decompose, the fish come and the fisherman cast thier nets. The stilt village has become a very tourist spot. The African children here understand economics all too well, as they readily beg to exchange anything- having thier picture taken or a pretty African flower for a shiny new coin.

Fishing.

The Market.

Where they go to get clean water.

Jesse, Kelly and I.

Boat Ride.

Danae and I.

Kelly and I wearing fun hats.

Going to Church.

If you do not have a canoe... you get creative.
The group with our tour guide who loved to sing and clap most of the trip.