A journey through the Sahara, from Marrakech to Timbuktu
Twelve Stages
The tour will take you on a journey in twelve stages, following the route of ancient caravans. You will discover through the eyes of Bert Flint the beauty of the artifacts of daily life and artistic productions, testifying to cultural exchanges between the two shores of the Sahara.
- Stage 1 – Middle Atlas
- Stage 2 – Eastern High Atlas
- Stage 3 – Pre-Saharan Oasis
- Stage 4 – The Touaregs
- Stage 5 – Arrival in West Africa
- Stage 6 – The Niger Loop
- Stage 7 – The Dogons
- Stage 8 – Around Timbuktu
- Stage 9 – The Mauretanian Tent
- Stage 10 – The Marrakchi Salon
- Stage 11 – The Western High Atlas
- Stage 12 – Lemtouni Triq
Along the route, the traveler encounters various populations during significant social moments, such as festivities and weekly markets, where individuals are particularly mindful of their personal image. This self-presentation is primarily achieved through body care and adornments, which form part of a codified language indicating tribal affiliation and social status while allowing individuals some freedom to express their personality. The study of the forms and techniques used in these ornaments often uncovers aspects of these populations’ histories that are not documented in written sources or oral traditions.
At each of the twelve stages, objects or architectural elements which are part of the interior decoration of the home are also presented. The form of this is determined by the lifestyle of the inhabitants (nomadic or sedentary)
The materials for making objects or building a home are often the products of agriculture and livestock (leather, wool, millet stalks), alongside materials taken from the natural environment.