Fatou, fetch the water

Fatou, fetch the water

The water bucket is empty!

So, follow in the footsteps of forgetful Fatou, as she fetches a fresh supply for a family feast.

Neil Griffiths

But will she return from her journey through the village with

Illustrated by

just water, or with much more

Fatou , fetch the water

Peggy Collins

than she expected?

A charming tale of the joys of both giving and receiving.

Neil Griffiths Illustrated by

Peggy Collins

ÂŁ 6.99 ISBN 978-1-905434-16-9

For more information, visit www.cornertolearn.co.uk

9 781905 434169 www.redrobinbooks.com

Red Robin

For each book sold, a donation will be given to Project Gambia.

In memory of Fatou Darboe, who was both a wonderful person and teacher, and to the special people of Gunjur in The Gambia.

Neil x

Red Robin Books is an imprint of Corner To Learn Limited Published by

Corner To Learn Limited Willow Cottage • 26 Purton Stoke Swindon • Wiltshire SN5 4JF • UK ISBN: 978-1-905434-16-9 First published in the UK 2010 Text © Neil Griffiths 2010 Illustrations © Peggy Collins 2010 The rights of Neil Griffiths to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Design by

David Rose Printed in China

Fatou, fetch the water Neil Griffiths Illustrated by

Peggy Collins

“Fatou, fetch the water," called her mother from the house.

“We shall have spicy rice for supper."

Fatou collected her large white bucket and hurried from the compound towards the well at the end of the village.

“Fatou," called Mrs Bojang from beneath the shade of a tall mango tree.

“I’m so glad to have seen you. Here, take these onions for your mother and thank her for my splendid purple dress."

Fatou hurried on towards the well.

The Gambia Fatou’s story is set

a musorr or tiko. The

in The Gambia,

men often choose to

a country in

wear a kaftan like the one Fatou’s mother made

Western Africa.

It is the smallest

The Gambia

for Mr Touray. It is a

country in mainland

full-length, long-sleeved

Africa and is bordered by

tunic. It is often called a

Senegal to the north, east and

fataro, jalabe or shabado.

south. It has a small coastline on the Atlantic Ocean to the

The currency in

west. It is named after the river

The Gambia is called the

Gambia that runs through it.

dalasi. Mrs Jammeh paid for Omar’s school uniform with dalasis. Notes come in

Many Gambian men

denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100. Forty dalasis

and women wear

are equivalent to approximately 1 English pound.

colourful traditional clothing that tends

Gambians love fish, which are caught fresh

to be long and

every day. One of the most popular is called

free-flowing to keep

Lady Fish. This is what Mr Touray gave Fatou.

them cool in the heat.

Women often wear a headdress like the one Mrs Bojang was wearing. It is called

Vegetables are grown

placed on a

by women in large

mat, with

gardens outside the

the whole

village and many are

family sitting

sold at busy colourful

around it.

markets. Fatou was given eggplants, which we

Everyone shares the food, but they only ever eat

call aubergines, by Mrs Bojang. She was also

with their right hands!

given ripe bitter tomatoes

by Mrs Darboe. These are

Bread always

a type of tomato which only

accompanies the meal. It is baked locally in

turn slightly red, but can be

every village by bakers who stay

eaten when green.

up till 2 in the morning to make sure it is A popular

very fresh. Mr Jatta gave Fatou bread

traditional

called tapalapa.

Gambian meal is Benachin, which

It is almost

is rice cooked

always the girls

with meat

and women who

or fish and

collect the

vegetables.

water from the

This is the meal

well. Some

Fatou’s mother was preparing with the

families are

ingredients Fatou had brought home. She was

lucky enough to

cooking it in a big metal pot over an open fire.

have their own well, but Fatou was making her

Benachin is then served in a big bowl, that is

way to a well shared by the whole village.

Fatou, fetch the water

The water bucket is empty!

So, follow in the footsteps of forgetful Fatou, as she fetches a fresh supply for a family feast.

Neil Griffiths

But will she return from her journey through the village with

Illustrated by

just water, or with much more

Fatou , fetch the water

Peggy Collins

than she expected?

A charming tale of the joys of both giving and receiving.

Neil Griffiths Illustrated by

Peggy Collins

ÂŁ 6.99 ISBN 978-1-905434-16-9

For more information, visit www.cornertolearn.co.uk

9 781905 434169 www.redrobinbooks.com

Red Robin

For each book sold, a donation will be given to Project Gambia.