Trailer for the documentary Sand Fishers.
he Bozo people of Mali are famous for their fishing and are often referred to as the “masters of the river.” They have a recognized connection with the spirits of the water that their neighboring communities do not possess. The Niger River is the principal vein of Mali and especially the rapidly modernizing city of Bamako. The Bozos have been finding their pirogues (fishing boats) coming up empty, and in recent years many have transitioned to fishing for sand. While Mali has a lot of sand, the best for construction is found at the bottom of the river. The “fishers” must dive to the river bed and fill their pirogues with the premium sand for sale to contractors in Bamako.