Le Femme Epanouie

Thursday morning I met a friend at the outstanding French Cultural Center in Lome'. We drank espresso and listened to musicians rehearsing behind the stage before viewing the center's exhibits and climbing aboard northbound motos. We stopped just below the circle before the University and hopped off. We would spend the morning wandering. Studying the informal economy and interacting with dynamic people and the pieces that make the neighborhood go. We stopped dead in our tracks when we passed the stall of Assamagon muralist and screenprinter. It was the stall cum studio cum gallery's adornments that sucked us in and we were welcome. Beautiful business is everywhere in Lome' with the hustle and the bustle and the can't wait to go back.

The Assamagon piece that you see was his first to catch my eye and is on exhibit at Chimka's Tavern indefinitely. It has been said to translate as "Woman at Ease" "Opened Up Woman" and "...and Now We Pray." Insight is welcome.

In the afternoon we participated in Kevin's excellent discussion group at the University where a significant conversation about addiction evolved into a revolutionary discussion on the oppressive politics of poorly distributed wealth.

The evening proceeded with bats an impromptu fed show love and congregation with spirits.