Building the Senegalese pirogue

(16 Sep 2007)
Yoff Beach, Dakar
1. Various pirogues at Yoff Beach
2. Wide of the Pirogue builder (Adama) working on a pirogue.
3. Various shots men building a pirogue.
4. SOUNDBITE: (Wolof) Adama, Pirogue Builder:
" It (the time it takes to build a pirogue) depends on the owner, if all the building materials are complete, we can build the pirogue in three days."
5. Pirogues moving in the water
6. SOUNDBITE: (Wolof) Adama, Pirogue Builder:
'' We normally use Samba wood, but this one is made of Khai" (Wolof for African Mahogany ).
7. Mid shot of pirogues.
8. Establishing shot Balla Niang Laye, pirogue owner standing alongside his pirogues with the builders
9. SOUNDBITE: (French) Balla Niang Laye, Pirogues Owner (on the fishing business):
"It's going okay. I haven't earned lots of money yet, but there are some fishermen like me that earned 12 million CFA Francs (around fourteen thousand US dollars) in just one day last month, but sometimes the business is really bad we lose. Some days one can be lucky and earn up to twenty million CFA." (about 140,000 USD)
10. Wide of pirogues and the beach.
11. Mid of pirogues, the beach and a donkey cart.
12. Wide of painter, Mr. Nodou
13. Various painting pirogue.
14. SOUNDBITE: (Wolof) Mr Nodou, Painter:
"The name on the pirogue is of a religious leader whose name is Serigne Babacar, because when you have a baby you give him a name, it is the same thing for a pirogue, and it this name which is like a license plate, a pirogue must have a name, it is its identity."
15. Mid of the pirogue after painting is finished.
16. Phrase from the Quran (Muslim holy book) written inside the pirogue. (To wish travellers a safe journey).
17. Inside the pirogue
18. Close up of a amulet inside the pirogue for protection
19. Various spraying of a pirogue ready to be launched to sea with water for good fortune
20. Various pirogue being launched into the water
LEAD IN:
The brightly coloured wooden boats known as pirogues dot the beaches in Senegal.
The flat-hulled vessels that have been used for centuries by fishermen in Senegal are an important part of everyday and spiritual life.
STORYLINE:
The pirogue is the traditional fishing boat used in west Africa. Its canoe shape makes it able to sail in shallow waters as well as high seas.
The boats come in all sizes - some can take more than 20 people and used for many days and weeks of fishing along the West African coast.
Boat maker, Adama works on Yoff Beach in Dakar. He explains that it can take three days to make a pirogue if all the materials are available. He adds that they use either samba wood of African mahogany.
There is money to be made from owning pirogues in Senegal. Boat owner and fisherman, Balla Niang Laye, says sometimes he can earn fourteen thousand US dollars in a single day from fishing.
The colourful paintings and the writing on the pirogues all carry a meaning. According to pirogue painter, Nodou, the name on the boat is usually that of a holy person. He explains that the name and design given to the boat is similar to giving it licence plates.
Different colours have meaning. Green is for prosperity. Red is for the wind and blue is for the sky.
Before a newly made pirogue is put into the sea the ritual of water spraying takes place. The locals believe that splashing the boat with water brings good fortune and protection.

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