God’s Bits of Wood

“God forgive me, I had forgotten Maimouna!” 

Maimouna is the blind young mother of infant twins, one of whom is trampled in the marketplace when soldiers conduct a charge there. She crawls around the area for hours, desperately attempting to search for the missing child. Finally, the battered and bruised young woman makes her way to Dieynaba’s house, which is being used as an infirmary. Upon seeing her, Dieynaba is overcome with grief and remorse that she did not remember that Maimouna would require assistance in escaping the carnage in the market. 

“Today, I will bring back something to eat.” 

While the striking male railway workers plan and attempt negotiations with management, the women are left in charge of the starving children. This situation eventually gives rise to a new breed of African woman. Driven by necessity, they abandon their subservient behavior patterns and become proficient in bartering, negotiating and intimidating merchants, as they scavenge food and water for their families. Their new mindset leads to the march of the women to Dakar. 

“I told you yesterday, Rama, that I couldn’t do anything more for you, or for any of the striker’s families.” 

Hadrame the Moor’s shop serves as a general store for the entire district. Prior to the strike, he extends credit to local families. Ramatoulaye visits the store in an effort to procure ten pounds of “just rice–no oil, no sugar” to feed the children.