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Braided Maiden

On the first day of our sojourn in Senegal we attended the initial ritual of the week-long Coumba Lamba ceremony. We arrived at mid-morning with the heat of Africa already upon us. This almost barren terrain served host to the one hundred or more in attendance. Waiting for the ceremony to begin, I circled the crowd and spotted from a distance the Braided Maiden.

The delicate strands fell gently on her face. Her intense gaze pierced her veil of braids. The fire of youth was in her eyes. Unsure of my intention or desire, she slowly turned toward me. I responded with a reassuring smile and a respectful nod.

  Dust stirred up by hig-spirited dancers filled the air and softened the intensity of the midday sun. In that moment, time seemed to stand still. I held my breath and focused on the braided maiden. My pulse quickened. I could hear only the muffled beating of my heart. Unsure about whether to take the picture, I hesitated. She gave me a respectful nod and a reassuring smile.

  I slowly walked away, pleased about this encounter and hopeful about the image just created. I began to wonder about what life in this impoverished land had in store for this young woman. My hope was that this moment of sweetness captured on film wasn't fleeting. My prayer for her and those of her generation was that their hopes and dreams would become realities and memories.