From May 23rd to June 5th I visited my daughter, Kerry Manire, who has been in the Peace Corps stationed in the village of Akame (ah-KAH-me), Togo, West Africa since August, 2003. In preparation for the trip I tried to learn as much as possible about the history and people, especially of the Ewe (EH-vay) ethnic group who live in Akame. I had heard that the Togolese are a warm and friendly people and “love” to have their picture taken. This turned out to be more true than you can possibly imagine.

Kerry’s project and participation have made her well loved by the village, and since I am her “papa”, and family ties are extremely important to West Africans, I was received with never ending hospitality. After arriving we immediately went to give salutations to the elders and Kerry’s friends. In each household I was warmly welcomed to the village and asked how my family is and how things are in my town. After some talk, Sodabe (the locally made alcoholic drink) was brought out and we had drinks all around. I began to see right away how important conversation, greetings and relationships are and soon developed a great admiration for these qualities that seem to be much reduced in America.

My formal welcome to the village was a ceremony, in which Kerry and I returned to the entrance of the village, and were met by the chief, drummers and colorfully dressed girls carrying bowls of flowers and confetti. They presented me with a live chicken, legs tied, and then we walked to a large, thatched roof shelter, where five drummers set up a mesmerizing beat and women danced. They gave me the seat of honor next to the chief and other elders. Then the chief welcomed me with a short speech noting how much they appreciated Kerry’s work in the village. I gave a short speech bringing greetings from our country, my state, town and family, and complimenting them on their hospitality and beautiful village. They responded with great applause, then I presented the village with two new soccer balls for which there was even greater applause! There was more drumming and dancing with me doing a poor imitation of their fluid movements. Since I am a folk dancer, I demonstrated a German schuplattler dance and a Romanian dance which they got a great kick out of. Next we took a group picture of everyone at the ceremony, then the drummers and dancers accompanied Kerry and me back to her house where we did more drumming and dancing. Later that day two of the women from Kerry’s goat raising project brought me a welcome gift in a metal bowl of a loaf of bread and some bananas.

The rest of the week I visited with the villagers, and Kerry’s projects, and the next week we hired a car and traveled to Badou in western Togo to visit waterfalls and other volunteers, then to Nadoba in the Taberma Valley to visit volunteer Bryan Cimorelli and photograph the Tatas (houses). This valley is the site of the first World Heritage site in Togo.

Togo is a photographers paradise! Unlike many other parts of the world the Togolese really do enjoy having their pictures taken. And since I shoot digital, they REALLY enjoyed immediately seeing their picture on the back of the camera. The response was always the same--boys, girls, men and women. They peer straight faced at the image, then break out into a big smile, laughing, giggling and pointing to show their friends. Walking around the village people would invite me to take their pictures--striking poses or often demonstrating skills like hoeing, and carrying things on their head. I’ll be mailing prints back for them to enjoy.

I have assembled here some of my best pictures of the 1,400 I took. Unfortunately, due to a malfunction of my memory card backup device, I lost about 400 pictures including a great series on the making of Sodabe, and other shots of village life.

The photos are organized by subject. Click on the subject to view them. Please let me know if you have any trouble viewing them.

Kerry’s website is www.dbtecs.com/kerryintogo

My email address is larry@dbtecs.com

Please let me know if you have trouble viewing these photographs and videos.

Thanx for visiting.

Larry Manire

170 Richardson Rd.

Coventry, RI 02816

(401) 385-9525

Cell: (401) 952-8148