MEMORIES FROM SENEGAL: SHOW NO FRIGHT!

This is the concluding part of my Dakar experience – Memories From Senegal: Missed Chance In Dakar.

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I smiled and said, “You speak English?” He smiled back and nodded. He pointed to a shack and said it was his place, a restaurant. He invited me over. Show no fear. So I followed him into the shack. A female was inside whom he introduced as his sister. There was a guy older than him, who he said was his friend and another guy who was his brother. They were smoking cigarettes. I sat next to the girl, while my host sat next to me. He showed me a painting he did. Nice.

We made small gist. I talked about about El-Hajj Diouf the Senegalese footballer and Demba Ba and Papise Cissé. I told them I wanted to take photographs of the sea. So I stepped out and the guy came out with me. My mind was working. How do I lose these guys without giving myself away that I was wary of their set-up? Thankfully, the others stayed in the shack.

couldn’t really tell if they were just folks who were totally harmless, or if they would turn dangerous if the opportunity arose.

I took some photos and then I told him to give me his number that I wanted him to paint the picture I had taken. I showed him the picture of the beach. He was excited. He went into the shack and returned with the older friend who smiled and gave me his notebook. I explained again. So the first guy tore a strip and wrote his name and number.

“You are Max?” He nodded. The other one introduced himself as Bona. I promised Max I’ll call him the next day and then asked how I can get to Plage de Ngor. They told me it was just further down. “I need to get there.”

Max told me no problem and I realized he wanted to come with me. Bona meanwhile had scurried in to drop his notebook. Show no fright. I shrugged and we left, while Bona caught up with us. I couldn’t really tell if they were just folks who were totally harmless, or if they would turn dangerous if the opportunity arose. We got back on to the main road and walked on, as it got chillier with the dusk setting in.

We talked idle gist. I remembered a song from the ‘90s. “Yele, Senegalese music called Yele. Ancient African music called Yele.” It lit them up and they told me the name of the artiste – I can’t remember again now. I really wanted to turn back after a while. I knew I couldn’t go to Ngor at this time, but I wanted to get to place I was earlier in the day, even though my feet were tired.

We eventually got to Plage de Ngor and I took some shots. The pirogues were there moored at the beach, and I could see the island. We left and I told my companions I was too tired to walk back. They stopped a taxi and got in with me. I thought they would get off on the way, but they rode all the way to the hotel. I guess they wanted to hang out. I paid the cabbie and gave the change to Max. They asked if they should wait for me. I shook my head. I was really tired. They waited. I crossed the road and went in to the hotel.

I got in my room and called Bamba and asked him if we could hang out. He said I should get a taxi and I should let him speak with the cabbie. I said okay and flopped on the bed to relax a bit. It was a couple of minutes to 20:00. Just a little rest, and I’ll go downstairs and ask the receptionist to get me a cab. Then, I’ll call Bamba. A little rest. I woke up suddenly, sprang up and it was dawn. Damn! My feet were still my shoes – and I didn’t even lie down properly on the bed. There goes my Dakar night-out experience!

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Concluded.