Penny, the hedgehog snatched from the bowels of the Bamako Death Market

Fun fact: People in the West African country of Mali will say, “The country is 80 percent Muslim, 20 percent Christian but 100 percent Animist.” Which means that everyone carries amulets, “passports” (leather pouches) and rings that are all full of magical potions created by a witch doctor… and that are made with all sorts of animals parts. Which also explains why Mali has almost no wildlife to mention, as every animal has been hunted to the point of extinction (Which is awful, except for the times you are forced to camp on the side of the Niger River in No Man’s Land and have to get up to pee at night. The absence of crocodiles comes in handy then, and only then). The dearth of crocodiles in Bamako is even more ironic as “Bamako” is taken from a Bambara word meaning “Crocodile River”… not so much anymore, just saying.

A stall in the Death Market

The main Witchdoctor (aka Death) Market is in the capital, Bamako, where you can find every animal that roam(ed) the country in a state of decay. There are hippos, hyenas, snakes, birds, dogs, lions… and hedgehogs. All waiting to be ground up into powder, blessed and put into a pouch so the wearer can traverse the Sahara or the Niger safely. For $2 you can videotape the stalls and take pictures – all while trying not to gag on the smell which is… potent, to say the least.

So there I was, in the Middle of the Death Market, when a vendor pointed out a ball of bristles. It was a tiny hedgehog-y ball of life in a sea of death. It freaked me out – I mean come on, can you imagine being stuck in a pile of rotting corpses just waiting for your turn? UGH. So I started haggling and walked away with Penny, the hedgehog, who was a little expensive, but how often can you save a life for $20?

The full story, WITH VIDEO of the rescue and release, after the jump!

Penny, hiding in the middle of death

Penny – released into the (semi) wild!

So I jammed Penny into a box, drove up to the top of Point G – the highest hill just outside of Bamako, and set her free. Or tried to. At first, poor Penny was too terrified to move, and she just kind of sat there. Not that I can blame her. So my friends and I wished her well (see video 2) and waited. After an hour she’d waddled off. Hopefully to a fruitful and happy life. You never know. But here’s hoping!

A small word about the videos you are abut to enjoy….

1. I look like shit, but don’t judge – you try looking good in Bamako. It’s not like there are hairdryers.

2. It’s a little shaky. Deal with it. But you get to see the full scope of the Death Stands – which are pretty interesting.

3. The first blonde is my pal Lucy, The Malian is my friend Sory and the second blonde is my dear pal Suz. They rock.

Video 1: Finding Penny in the Death Market:

Video 2: Setting Penny Free!