A day in the life of:

The endless smog from the hundreds of mosquito bikes, blended with the smug bog of and early morning sunrise it’s another day in Cotonou Benin. I drag my weary body our of bed from the comfort of my air conditioned room only to be enveloped by and intoxicating humidity as I venture down the three flights of stairs leading to the roadway below.

Not much changed this night past except perhaps the smoke is thicker than usual today with the over cast sky and the bare striped streets people are bustling about making ready for their monotones montage of a life that takes them from one sale to another. Everyone who is anyone has something to sell, from a tooth pick to a basket of bread or maybe some chicken to brighten up the day.

From dawn till dusk and dusk till dawn there is something that needs to be sold, just one more cd, or perhaps one more power supply and ill make my quota. Children play haphazardly in the sun scorched streets amused by the one year old trying out his first steps. But what of this young child, what lies before him? A life destined for pedaling or maybe a bike mechanic or a maze grinder, yes maybe even a tailor or a butcher, time will tell. Mid morning passes only to invite the rays of the sun that reach a level of claustrophobic aura. I watch on as a young boy sleeps on the brush swept soil only a sheet to cover his frail young self. He lay there for what seemed an eternity, not stirring lest he should break a sweat. The fly’s swarm him the ants crawl over him yet not a stir or a moan. Its best to be indoors this hour as the heat seems to much to bare perhaps I'll venture out in an hour or two well make that three or four.