On a rocky Cape Verde beach, Maria and Vania fill their buckets with black sand the moment that waves recede, transporting it on their heads to a stockpile where it will be sold illegally.
News
The women struggle to keep their footing against the rough ocean while balancing the loads, which weigh dozens of kilograms (pounds).
The beach is far from the typical picture postcard image of the west African archipelago and Vania Tavares makes the sign of the cross before stepping into its dangerous waves.
The women, known as “sand thieves”, have performed this gruelling task almost daily for more than 15 years in order to survive in one of the island nations’ poorest regions.
Details
With solemn expressions, the pair plus four other neighbouring women move in a silent, hours-long dance during low tide at Charco Beach near the town Ribeira da Barca, located on the main island of Santiago.
Maria Eleonore Monteiro’s slender frame sways under the weight of the bucket as she climbs towards dry land to empty it beside a dozen large piles, which will be sold to contractors or resellers.
Buyers pay around $140 for a load of sea sand, often gathered over weeks, which is still cheaper than what is legally extracted from quarries.
Analysis
“It’s my only alternative, I have no other job”, Monteiro told AFP, exhausted after a trip to the piles.
Her legs are scarred from falls and accidents on the rocks: “I’ve been gathering sand for so long that I have back pain. Sometimes I spend three days in bed”, she said.
Stay informed with the latest news on Wararka.so — your trusted source for Somalia and world news.
