Sedhiou. The Casamance region, to the south of Senegal, is named for the Casamance River, which cuts across the administrative regions of Ziguinchor, Kolda, and Sedhiou. The capital of this last region is the designated project area. The city of Sedhiou itself has approximately 22,000 inhabitants, with a total of 420,000 in the entire region, scattered about in numerous villages. The primary ethnic groups are: Mandinka, Balantes, Diolas, Fula, Creol, Diahankey, and Mancangne. The Mandinka group is culturally characterised by the presence of the Griot, a figure that promotes African culture and recounts its historical events with the help of a musical instrument called a Kora. As in the rest of Senegal, there are two primary seasons in Sedhiou: the dry season, from November to May, and the rainy season, from June to October, with approximately 1000-1150 mm/year of rainfall. During the dry season temperatures vary between 33°C and 45°C. Due to the recent drought, agricultural and fishing activities have decreased considerably, thus affecting families’ food stability. The most well-developed financial sector in Sédhiou is agriculture. The primary crops are: millet, corn, rice, sweet potatoes, manioc, peanuts, mango, oranges, cashews, papaya, lettuce, carrots, and tomatoes. Despite this variety of food resources, the lack of infrastructure prevents producers from being able to expand their markets. The healthcare system is wholly insufficient. In the entire Sedhiou region there is only one hospital with few operating rooms and relatively little specialised personnel. In the rest of the region heath and first aid centres are disconnected from each other. The healthcare system’s lack of organisation has a strong impact on child mortality (82%) and life expectancy (65 years) in the region. Poor hygiene is one of the primary causes of illness. Most of the population drinks water from non-purified and hand-constructed wells, with subsequent problems of dysentery and related illnesses. Malaria is one of the most widespread diseases in the region. The illiteracy rate is about 50%, due in no small part to the lack of roads and transportation and to the low affordability of secondary schools. The subsoil is characterised by a reddish laterite stone and by alternating layers of white sand and clay. The primary forms of art in the region are music, dance, and dress making. There are also other minor activities related to artisan crafts.

The lot. The project area is located along the bank of the Casamance River, on predominantly clay terrain and with a minimal slope. The lot is immersed in the the surrounding environment and natural landscape. It is bordered by the river on one side and the city on the other. The surrounding area is in expansion and characterised by the presence of an unauthorised street market, the city’s main market, and various offices, as well as by the “Chambre de Métier”, which constantly hosts institutional meetings. Between the Chambre and the market lay the ruins of the old colony’s government headquarters with annexed blockhouse, today in a state of neglect. During colonial occupation the city of Sedhiou was the capital of Casamance. The lot is partially bordered by some rice paddies located at the corner of the road along the river (Rue Corniche), which connects the riverbank to one of the city’s main squares, where the market is located. Standing out in the surrounding landscape are three large kapok trees (these days somewhat rare in the city) which, according to ancient tradition, may have mystical meaning. From the riverbank it is possible to cross the river in a pirogue to reach the main settlements. Not far from the project area, in the middle of Casamance River, is Devil’s Island, thus called by colonial explorers because of the mystical events that took place there. In fact, the island was once a place of spiritual retreat.