Mali, Africa
Mali will always hit different. My favorite place to visit, nowhere else can compare. My mothers hometown. My roots. The best mother daughter trip a girl could ask for. There’s so much sentimental value connected to Mali. All of my time here is spent with family and although I’m unable to visit as much as I would like, I hold my time here very close to my heart. Core memories are curated, lovable moments are had, belly laughs are felt, storytelling and reminiscing is organic, yummy foods are homemade, and above all else LOVE is so present.
Back Story -
I’ve been visiting Bamako, Mali with my mom since I was a young girl. I don’t remember too much, but I do have certain childhood moments engraved into my heart; some of which I remember physically being there and others in which I saw photos and/or video footage. Dancing with my cousins at my sisters 5th birthday party. Being in the presence of extended family members. Needing a folding fan to get through the hot days and nights. There are so many photos of my sister and I playing with our cousins and sitting on grandma’s lap. Walking the streets of Mali, hand in hand with mom. Back then, I was just along for the ride. Now as an adult, going back feels intentional. The best bonding time between my mother and I, as well as the opportunity to foster relationships with my extended family.
Accommodations -
I’d argue that the best time to visit Mali is during their “cold” season. Temperatures can run anywhere between 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit. “Cold” season is still very much so hot, but there is a nice breeze that helps with the heat. I always go sometime between December and February. While there are nice airbnbs and hotels available, I opt to stay at our family home. A gated house with so much land to run around and enjoy the outdoors via the front yard. My moms favorite sister is always there to greet us. Family members and friends stop by to say hello and reminisce. The local market is within walking distance. Homemade meals are cooked daily. I LOVE being home. My day to days are normally very relaxing and family centered.
Eatery -
West African food period is so delicious. The flavors, the aromas, the spices, the variety!! I’m so happy I grew up in an African home. I’ve been preview to Malian food my entire life. There are a few dishes specific to Mali that I throughly enjoy and when I visit, my family makes sure I’m well fed with all my favorites. While there are plenty of yummy restaurants in the city, I eat a lot of home cooked meals. Rice, cous cous, fonio, fufu or attieke are normally the base to every meal. They are typically topped with some sort of stew, vegetables, and a protein paired with alloco.. YUM! You’ll want to be careful with raw fruits and veggies that cannot be peeled as they can contain harmful germs and be sure to drink filtered/bottled water.
Braiding Services -
Getting my hair braided whenever I visit Mali is a MUST. I’m not sure if the braiding technique is different or what, but my hair always hits different when a Malian or Senegalese woman touches it. I go to Adam Dakar Coiffureé, a local beauty shop that specializes in hair and make up. It’s super affordable for us Americans because the dollar goes a long way so be sure to tip well!! I paid $45 for small butt-length knotless braids. FOURTY-FIVE DOLLARS! The ladies work so hard and are so funny and professional. I absolutely enjoyed my experience and can’t wait to re-vist.
Power Outage -
Mali experiences daily unscheduled power outages that can last for hours at a time. I’m not sure when this started happening throughout the country, but I really felt the inconvenience of it during my most recent trip in 2024. I can only imagine what locals, hospitals, work shops, stay at home moms.. etc go through on a daily basis with the power consistently going in and out. Luckily for us, we have chargeable lightbulbs placed around the family home that charge when the power is still active. When the power shuts off, the chargeable lightbulbs turn on and provide the house with a little bit of light. These lightbulbs tend to die rather quickly so by the time night time hits, flashlights are often used until the power comes back on. We insist on keeping the fan switch turned on throughout the day because it is a clear indication that the power is either on or off. When the fan randomly stops spinning, we know the power went out. I’m sure you can only imagine the excitement we have once we see the fan spinning again. The power is back and we can now proceed with our day as normal.
As an adult, I’ve visited Mali twice in 2018 then again in 2024. It’s so wild how quickly time passes and how much things change as time goes on. Both times family was at the center, but in 2018 there was much more room to play. Things felt less serious. Staying up all night and playing UNO with my cousins was the norm. Fast forward to 6 years later, we all grew up. Life got really real. Some married, some with children, jobs, responsibilities… no more staying up and out till 2-3am. It’s almost as if I expected Mali to be at a standstill. I expected everything there to still be the same even if 6 years had gone by. A true reality. My baby cousins are growing up. They’re grocery shopping and cooking and cleaning. It’s so easy to notice how much of a different day to day life we’re living. Although the change is very obvious, one thing that has managed to stay the same is the love I feel when visiting. Language barrier/culture barrier and all, my family loves me and vice versa. I feel it, I see it and I’m so happy about it.
Community -
The sense of community is so grand in Mali. It seems as if everyone knows everyone. My mom makes it her duty to provide clean and free drinking water to the local community. We have a large water tank that sits on the roof of the family home. That tank is connected to a small well underground, which pumps clean water into the tank. The water that is stored in that tank is distributed for use via water faucets. We have one that faces outward so people in the community can gather water as they please, and we have a few that are within the family homes gate for personal use such as gardening and/or laundry. This water is also used inside the home for cooking, cleaning, showering.. etc. It’s such a small yet thoughtful way to give back to the community. My mom also has a nonprofit organization called 14Plus1, which advocates against female genital mutilation, a practice that is known to be quite common in Mali.
Planning a visit? -
If Mali is a place of interest for you be sure to do your research before booking your flight. Apply for a visa well in advance, make sure you have a valid passport and be sure to take the necessary vaccines for safety. Mali is a culturally rich country and I’m so proud to be a first generation African-American/Malian woman.
Mali, Africa
Mali will always hit different. My favorite place to visit, nowhere else can compare. My mothers hometown. My roots. The best mother daughter trip a girl could ask for. There’s so much sentimental value connected to Mali. All of my time here is spent with family and although I’m unable to visit as much as I would like, I hold my time here very close to my heart. Core memories are curated, lovable moments are had, belly laughs are felt, storytelling and reminiscing is organic, yummy foods are homemade, and above all else LOVE is so present.
Back Story -
I’ve been visiting Bamako, Mali with my mom since I was a young girl. I don’t remember too much, but I do have certain childhood moments engraved into my heart; some of which I remember physically being there and others in which I saw photos and/or video footage. Dancing with my cousins at my sisters 5th birthday party. Being in the presence of extended family members. Needing a folding fan to get through the hot days and nights. There are so many photos of my sister and I playing with our cousins and sitting on grandma’s lap. Walking the streets of Mali, hand in hand with mom. Back then, I was just along for the ride. Now as an adult, going back feels intentional. The best bonding time between my mother and I, as well as the opportunity to foster relationships with my extended family.
As an adult, I’ve visited Mali twice in 2018 then again in 2024. It’s so wild how quickly time passes and how much things change as time goes on. Both times family was at the center, but in 2018 there was much more room to play. Things felt less serious. Staying up all night and playing UNO with my cousins was the norm. Fast forward to 6 years later, we all grew up. Life got really real. Some married, some with children, jobs, responsibilities… no more staying up and out till 2-3am. It’s almost as if I expected Mali to be at a standstill. I expected everything there to still be the same even if 6 years had gone by. A true reality. My baby cousins are growing up. They’re grocery shopping and cooking and cleaning. It’s so easy to notice how much of a different day to day life we’re living. Although the change is very obvious, one thing that has managed to stay the same is the love I feel when visiting. Language barrier/culture barrier and all, my family loves me and vice versa. I feel it, I see it and I’m so happy about it.
Accommodations -
I’d argue that the best time to visit Mali is during their “cold” season. Temperatures can run anywhere between 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit. “Cold” season is still very much so hot, but there is a nice breeze that helps with the heat. I always go sometime between December and February. While there are nice airbnbs and hotels available, I opt to stay at our family home. A gated house with so much land to run around and enjoy the outdoors via the front yard. My moms favorite sister is always there to greet us. Family members and friends stop by to say hello and reminisce. The local market is within walking distance. Homemade meals are cooked daily. I LOVE being home. My day to days are normally very relaxing and family centered.
Eatery -
West African food period is so delicious. The flavors, the aromas, the spices, the variety!! I’m so happy I grew up in an African home. I’ve been preview to Malian food my entire life. There are a few dishes specific to Mali that I throughly enjoy and when I visit, my family makes sure I’m well fed with all my favorites. While there are plenty of yummy restaurants in the city, I eat a lot of home cooked meals. Rice, cous cous, fonio, fufu or attieke are normally the base to every meal. They are typically topped with some sort of stew, vegetables, and a protein paired with alloco.. YUM! You’ll want to be careful with raw fruits and veggies that cannot be peeled as they can contain harmful germs and be sure to drink filtered/bottled water.
Power Outage -
Mali experiences daily unscheduled power outages that can last for hours at a time. I’m not sure when this started happening throughout the country, but I really felt the inconvenience of it during my most recent trip in 2024. I can only imagine what locals, hospitals, work shops, stay at home moms.. etc go through on a daily basis with the power consistently going in and out. Luckily for us, we have chargeable lightbulbs placed around the family home that charge when the power is still active. When the power shuts off, the chargeable lightbulbs turn on and provide the house with a little bit of light. These lightbulbs tend to die rather quickly so by the time night time hits, flashlights are often used until the power comes back on. We insist on keeping the fan switch turned on throughout the day because it is a clear indication that the power is either on or off. When the fan randomly stops spinning, we know the power went out. I’m sure you can only imagine the excitement we have once we see the fan spinning again. The power is back and we can now proceed with our day as normal.
Braiding Services -
Getting my hair braided whenever I visit Mali is a MUST. I’m not sure if the braiding technique is different or what, but my hair always hits different when a Malian or Senegalese woman touches it. I go to Adam Dakar Coiffureé, a local beauty shop that specializes in hair and make up. It’s super affordable for us Americans because the dollar goes a long way so be sure to tip well!! I paid $45 for small butt-length knotless braids. FOURTY-FIVE DOLLARS! The ladies work so hard and are so funny and professional. I absolutely enjoyed my experience and can’t wait to re-vist.
Community -
The sense of community is so grand in Mali. It seems as if everyone knows everyone. My mom makes it her duty to provide clean and free drinking water to the local community. We have a large water tank that sits on the roof of the family home. That tank is connected to a small well underground, which pumps clean water into the tank. The water that is stored in that tank is distributed for use via water faucets. We have one that faces outward so people in the community can gather water as they please, and we have a few that are within the family homes gate for personal use such as gardening and/or laundry. This water is also used inside the home for cooking, cleaning, showering.. etc. It’s such a small yet thoughtful way to give back to the community. My mom also has a nonprofit organization called 14Plus1, which advocates against female genital mutilation, a practice that is known to be quite common in Mali.
Planning a visit? -
If Mali is a place of interest for you be sure to do your research before booking your flight. Apply for a visa well in advance, make sure you have a valid passport and be sure to take the necessary vaccines for safety. Mali is a culturally rich country and I’m so proud to be a first generation African-American/Malian woman.
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