Mali

Mali is a developing nation and faces the problems of developing nations. Droughts have destroyed much of the regions plant and animal life. Many people are uneducated and can not read or write. There are poor health conditions with only a few hundred doctors living in Mali. Malaria is a major cause of death among Mali's children.

The majority of the people are black Africans belonging to different ethnic groups. Most live in small rural villages in southern Mali and farm for a living. They can only raise enough food for their own survival. The typical farm tool is an old fashion hand tool. Many women use gourds to water the crops as their ancestors did. They grow cassava, corn, millet, rice, sorghum and yams. Some of the people herd cattle as well.

When entering a visitor gives a short greeting. If the visitor is a stranger a longer greeting is given. While the greetings are given the host and guest may hold right hands.

When greeting someone in the Bambara language a man will give a different response than a woman. For all greetings men say "nba" and women say "nse".

For example if the greeting is "I ni sogoma"(Good morning) men would respond with "nba"(like thank you). Women would respond with "nse". To greet someone around noon you would say "I ni tilé". Men would reply with "nba and women would reply with "nse". "I ni wula" (Good afternoon -- used in afternoon until dusk) men reply with "nba" and women reply with "nse".

Clothing among Malians is predominantly African in style, although young men often wear Western styles for everyday. Styles for men include the zerebou, a long tunic over pants, or for dressier wear, a grand boubou, a long, large embroidered robe worn over a short tunic and pants. Only a small number of women wear Western clothing. For everyday, women wear a blouse and a pagne, a length of cloth wrapped around the waist to make a long skirt. On formal occasions, women wear a boubou, a long flowing robe, over a pagne. Many women have elaborately braided hairstyles and often wear a scarf wound around their heads. Among the expatriate community, Western-style clothing is worn: slacks, shirts, skirts, dresses, blouses, etc. Casual, lightweight, loose, summery styles are worn most of the time.

Cotton and cotton-blend fabrics are preferable because of the heat. Clothing should be durable and washable; it is very dusty during the dry season and muddy during the rainy season. Clothing wears out quickly because it must be washed frequently due to the climate. Fairly reliable dry-cleaning is available. Western-style clothing is available in some boutiques but prices are generally high and quality is not good. Once at post, many people order clothing and shoes from U.S. mail order companies.

The Community Liaison Office maintains a collection of catalogs for this purpose. Also, many local tailors can copy a garment from a picture or sample, although the quality varies depending on cost. Ask colleagues or the CLO to recommend a tailor in your area. Available fabrics are largely the European white damask cotton, locally known as bazin, and locally woven heavy cottons; these are dyed (using the tie-dye or batik techniques for which Mali is renowned) and sometimes embroidered to produce beautiful and serviceable (mainly casual) clothes. A limited supply and variety of imported fabrics is available, and one store sells a selection of European furnishing fabrics. Patterns are not available and the supply of sewing notions (thread, buttons, zippers and trims) is good, but not of the same quality as in the US. Shoes and sandals should be low-heeled, sturdy, and comfortable. There are very few sidewalks, and those that exist are very uneven, so shoes wear out quickly from the dirt and rubble. For this reason, as well as the pollution, the heat, and traffic risks to pedestrians, few expatriates walk very far in Bamako.

Sandals can be worn most of the year and are practical because of the heat. Suede will be soon damaged because of the prevalence of heavy dust followed by rains and mud. Shoes and sandals, mostly of synthetic materials, can be found at the market, but the selection of styles and sizes is small and the quality varies from fair to poor. Handcrafted leather purses and flat or low-heeled sandals can be made to order or purchased off the rack at the Artisanat. Plastic sandals and flip-flops for adults and children are sold in the market. Be sure to bring shoe polishes and extra shoelaces. Bring sports attire, such as tennis wear, exercise leotards, and good sports shoes, etc. Also, bring several bathing suits, as chlorinated water tends to wear them out quickly. Lightweight jackets or sweaters are needed occasionally during the cool season and an umbrella is useful during the rainy season. Nylon stockings are uncomfortable because of the heat and are rarely worn. Bring lightweight hats for protection against the sun. Some warm, winter-type clothing for all family members is necessary in case of travel (vacations, trainings, TDYs or evacuation) to cooler climates. Children For children, be sure to bring a generous supply of summer clothing.

Heat and dust often necessitate several changes a day. Playwear should include shorts, pants, jeans, sundresses, tee shirts, swimsuits, sandals, sneakers, and sun hats. Dress for school is informal. Local tailors make charming children's clothes in colored cotton. Other items to bring for children are cotton underwear, socks, pajamas, a light-weight jacket, several sweaters, some winter wear and a coat for travel to cooler climates. For infants, bring a large supply of cloth and disposable diapers, diaper pins, and rubber pants. Disposable diapers are sometimes available on the local economy but are very expensive. American-style rubber pants are not available. Some baby clothes are available but the variety is small and the quality is poor. Cotton undershirts, cotton pajamas, and summer-weight infant wear should be brought to post. Don't forget extra shoes in several sizes for rapidly growing toddlers. Flip-flops and plastic sandals for children are available in the market. Bring baby towels, washcloths, crib sheets, and cotton baby blankets.

Food shopping for food in Bamako usually requires going to several locations for the items on a list. There are open-air markets, several small grocery stores, tiny neighborhood boutiques, bakeries, and butchers. Door-to-door vendors sell fish, pork, and vegetables. A good variety of food can be found in Bamako. Stores and boutiques generally have fixed prices and are open between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., and again between 3:30 and 8 p.m., except on Sundays, when most places are either closed or only open until 1 p.m. The market is bustling at almost any time of the day although some vendors close for a long lunch break. There are no fixed prices, so bargaining is in order. Fresh fruits and vegetables are sold in outdoor markets or by vendors who come to the door. A variety of fruits and vegetables are grown, although availability, quality, and price depend upon the season.

Vegetables are generally available year round, including potatoes, onions, leeks, garlic, parsley, celery (very small stalks, mostly leaves, but adequate for cooking), lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, radishes, green bell peppers, hot peppers, eggplant, and okra. Available for short periods in season are beets, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, spinach, corn (field corn), turnips, green cabbage, peas, green onions, and sweet potatoes. Fruits available in season are mangoes, papayas, bananas, guavas, coconut, pineapples, oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, tangerines, strawberries, watermelon, melon, and avocados. Local fresh fruits and vegetables are generally less expensive than in the U.S. Imported apples are available most of the year and on occasion, other fruits and vegetables such as artichokes, asparagus, endives, mushrooms, Pascal celery, peaches, cherries, pears, grapes, nectarines and apricots can be found in the grocery stores. Imported fruits and vegetables are imported from France and Lebanon and are extremely expensive. Peanuts are available year round in the market; almonds, hazelnuts, and pistachio nuts are available in the stores at high prices. Herbs and spices are also found in the market: mint, fresh ginger, basil, hot pepper, caraway seeds, cilantro (Chinese parsley), bay leaves, nutmeg, lemon grass (citronella), peppercorns, salt, curry, bouillon cubes, and many local spices, such as ground baobab leaves. Imported spices are available at very high prices in the grocery stores.

Mali also raises good beef, pork, and mutton, which are sold in the market and in several small butcher shops. Beef and mutton purchased in the open market are freshly butchered and should be frozen before use. Beef is quite flavorful, but very lean and often tough so it is useful to bring meat tenderizers and marinades to post. The French style of cut is available, though some butchers can do U.S. cuts. Fresh meat is not expensive by U.S. standards; fillet sells for about $2.50 a pound. Chickens are frequently skinny and tough. Imported bacon, ham, sausages, and pâtés are available in the grocery stores and butcher shops, but are relatively expensive. Chicken, turkey, pigeon, guinea hen, and rabbit are also sold in the market, as are river fish (Nile Perch or capitaine) and carp. Both poultry and fresh fish are expensive by U.S. standards. Frozen shrimp is sold in grocery stores at very high prices. Canned seafood and fish (tuna, salmon, etc.) are also available. Eggs are available in the market and stores. Fresh milk can be found but must be boiled before use. UHT (ultra-high temperature) long-life milk is sold both in whole, 2%, and skimmed forms; it does not need refrigeration until opened. Powdered whole milk (full cream), butter (salted and unsalted), and margarine are available, as is long-life cream.

There is a good selection of European cheeses (Gouda, Edam, Cheddar, Roquefort, Camembert, Brie, Gruyere, several other French and Lebanese cheeses, and goat's milk cheese), but these are over $10 per pound. Cottage cheese, mozzarella, and cream cheese are usually available. Imported crème fraîche (cultured cream), whipping cream, yogurt, and ice cream are available, but very expensive. Mali Lait, the local milk producer, has passed Embassy Health Unit tests on its milk, yogurt, and ice cream but their products have a short shelf life. Yogurt makers and ice cream freezers are useful items to ship to post but it is also possible to make (or teach your cook to make) these items at home without special equipment. Infrequent shortages of staples such as butter, eggs, milk, and sugar do occur. Several grocery stores and neighborhood shops offer a variety of packaged goods and canned items such as fruits, juices, vegetables, soups, fish, and meat. The quality of some of the canned goods available is not as high as equivalent American items. Paper products, dairy products, sausages, ham, and cold cuts are available. Also found are liquors, a wide selection of wines (mostly French but some Spanish, Australian, and a few Californian), local and European beer, soft drinks, and fruit juices; cookies and crackers; jams and honey; soaps, detergents, and cleaning products; coffee and tea; spaghetti, macaroni and couscous; oils, vinegar, sauces and condiments; cocoa and spices. There are even some specialty items for Chinese and Vietnamese cooking such as soy sauce and rice wrappers for spring rolls. Most of the items stocked in the stores are imported from Europe but some U.S. products introduced to Europe end up on local shelves. Imported items are expensive. For example, five kilograms (11 pounds) of laundry detergent costs about $32.00, a liter of cream can be $16.00, a kilogram of cheese costs around $22.75. Jars of baby food and baby cereal are sold in the stores; however, there is not much variety; they are expensive and items are often out of stock. High quality European baby formulas are usually available in the pharmacies and are less expensive than American brands. Local bakeries carry French-style bread (baguettes), pastries, and pain de mie, loaf-style breads similar to, but heavier than, American bread. Whole wheat and white flour is available, though most people either bring their own or buy from the Commissary.

Cake and cookie decorating items and food colorings are available in limited variety at some of the shops. Canned pet food is sold in the grocery stores. Most pet owners prefer to have pet food prepared at home, using rice, meat, and vegetable scraps. Pet products such as flea collars, worm medicines, medication, and shampoos, rawhide chew bones and toys are not available and should be brought to post. Malian, French, and some American brands of cigarettes can be found. Pipe tobaccos are not available but Middle Eastern apple tobacco often is. The American Community Services Association of Mali (ACSAM) operates a small commissary for U.S. Government employees and contractors who have duty-free privileges. The commissary carries American foodstuffs such as cereal, baking goods, frosting, brown and confectioners sugar, vanilla and other extracts, unsweetened chocolate, chocolate chips, cake and pancake mixes and shortening. Also, sauces, condiments, pickles, jams, syrups, peanut butter, canned soups (mushroom, tomato, etc.), cereals, gelatins, puddings, candy, nuts, cookies, crackers, juices, liquors and wines, Chinese and Mexican food products, personal products, cleaning products and paper goods are all available but in limited quantity and variety. Commissary deposits are currently $250 for single and $500 for family memberships and may be paid in installments; the deposit is refunded in full on departure from post. However, this is likely to change to a non-refundable fee system (around $50 per member) in the future. Transportation expenses make many commissary items more expensive than their U.S. counterparts; shipments are sometimes irregular and supplies are limited. Employees posted to Mali are currently granted a consumables allowance of 2,500 pounds, intended to offset difficulties caused by shortage, expense, or unavailability of items at post. Some employees ship none or only part of the allowance before arrival and the remainder later when they know the availability and prices of items locally. Check favorite recipes for special ingredient needs and request catalogs from mail-order grocery outlets for ideas for consumable shipments. You might want to include laundry soap, your favorite cleaning supplies, paper items (such as baby diapers, toilet paper, paper towels, facial tissue, sanitary products), ethnic foods, beauty supplies and cosmetics or anything you do not wish to live without. You can check beforehand with your sponsor or contact in Mali whether particular items are available at post.

In rural Mali normally the food is served in a large bowl (sauce over millet), and people sit around the bowl and eat out of the same bowl with their right hands.

Typically Mali's can only raise enough food for their own survival. The typical farm tool is an old fashion hand tool. Many women use gourds to water the crops as their ancestors did. They grow cassava, corn, millet, rice, sorghum and yams for food. Some of the people herd cattle as well.

Food shopping in Bamako usually requires going to several locations for the items on a list. There are open-air markets, several small grocery stores, tiny neighborhood boutiques, bakeries, and butchers. Door-to-door vendors sell fish, pork, and vegetables. A good variety of food can be found in Bamako. Stores and boutiques generally have fixed prices and are open between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., and again between 3:30 and 8 p.m., except on Sundays, when most places are either closed or only open until 1 p.m. The market is bustling at almost any time of the day although some vendors close for a long lunch break. There are no fixed prices, so bargaining is in order. Fresh fruits and vegetables are sold in outdoor markets or by vendors who come to the door. A variety of fruits and vegetables are grown, although availability, quality, and price depend upon the season.

Vegetables are generally available year round, including potatoes, onions, leeks, garlic, parsley, celery (very small stalks, mostly leaves, but adequate for cooking), lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, radishes, green bell peppers, hot peppers, eggplant, and okra. Available for short periods in season are beets, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, spinach, corn (field corn), turnips, green cabbage, peas, green onions, and sweet potatoes. Fruits available in season are mangoes, papayas, bananas, guavas, coconut, pineapples, oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, tangerines, strawberries, watermelon, melon, and avocados. Imported apples are available most of the year and on occasion, other fruits and vegetables such as artichokes, asparagus, endives, mushrooms, Pascal celery, peaches, cherries, pears, grapes, nectarines and apricots can be found in the grocery stores. Imported fruits and vegetables are imported from France and Lebanon and are extremely expensive. Peanuts are available year round in the market; almonds, hazelnuts, and pistachio nuts are available in the stores at high prices. Herbs and spices are also found in the market: mint, fresh ginger, basil, hot pepper, caraway seeds, cilantro (Chinese parsley), bay leaves, nutmeg, lemon grass (citronella), peppercorns, salt, curry, bouillon cubes, and many local spices, such as ground baobab leaves.

Mali also raises good beef, pork, and mutton, which are sold in the market and in several small butcher shops. Beef and mutton purchased in the open market are freshly butchered and should be frozen before use. Beef is quite flavorful, but very lean and often tough. Chickens are frequently skinny and tough. Imported bacon, ham, sausages, and pâtés are available in the grocery stores and butcher shops. Chicken, turkey, pigeon, guinea hen, and rabbit are also sold in the market, as are river fish (Nile Perch or capitaine) and carp. Frozen shrimp is sold in grocery stores. Canned seafood and fish (tuna, salmon, etc.) are also available. Eggs are available in the market and stores. Fresh milk can be found but must be boiled before use.

There is a good selection of European cheeses (Gouda, Edam, Cheddar, Roquefort, Camembert, Brie, Gruyere, several other French and Lebanese cheeses, and goat's milk cheese). Cottage cheese, mozzarella, and cream cheese are usually available. Imported crème fraîche (cultured cream), whipping cream, yogurt, and ice cream are available, but very expensive. Mali Lait, the local milk producer, has passed Embassy Health Unit tests on its milk, yogurt, and ice cream but their products have a short shelf life. Local bakeries carry French-style bread (baguettes), pastries, and pain de mie, loaf-style breads similar to, but heavier than, American bread.

Canned pet food is sold in the grocery stores. Most pet owners prefer to have pet food prepared at home, using rice, meat, and vegetable scraps. Malian, French, and some American brands of cigarettes can be found. Pipe tobaccos are not available but Middle Eastern apple tobacco often is.

Malian law allows for men to have more than one wife and many have two wives. A small percentage of men have four wives which is the maximum allowable by law. When a man has more than one wife each wife is entitled to her own house or apartment and the man must provide for each wife equally. When a man has more than one wife many times the wives will share in the food preparation responsibilities.

Soccer is the most important sport. Most young people enjoy listening to music both international and African.