Latest news with #Wolof
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
African prisoners made sound recordings in German camps in WW1: this is what they had to say
His recorded voice speaking in Wolof travelled back home in 2024, as a sound installation I created for the Théodore Monod African Art Museum in Dakar. Chapter two listens to Mohamed Nur from Somalia. In 1910 he went to Germany to work as a teacher to the children of performers in a so-called Völkerschau (an ethnic show; sometimes called a human zoo, where 'primitive' cultures were displayed). After refusing to perform on stage, he found himself stranded in Germany without a passport or money. He worked as a model for a German artist and later as a teacher of Somali at the University of Hamburg. Nur left a rich audiovisual trace in Germany, which speaks of the exploitation of men of colour in German academia as well as by artists. One of his songs comments on the poor treatment of travellers and gives a plea for more hospitality to strangers. Stephan Bischoff, who grew up in a German mission station in Togo and was working in a shoe shop in Berlin when the war began, appears in the third chapter. His recordings criticise the practices of the Christian colonial evangelising mission. He recalls the destruction of an indigenous shrine in Ghana by German military in 1913. Also in chapter three is Albert Kudjabo, who fought in the Belgian army before he was imprisoned in Germany. He mainly recorded drum language, a drummed code based on a tonal language from the Democratic Republic of the Congo that German linguists were keen to study. He speaks of the massive sociocultural changes that mining brought to his home region, which may have caused him to migrate. Together these songs, stories and accounts speak of a practice of extracting knowledge in prisoner of war camps. But they offer insights and commentary far beyond the 'example sentences' that the recordings were meant to be. Why do these sound archives matter? As sources of colonial history, the majority of the collections in European sound archives are still untapped, despite the growing scholarly and artistic interest in them in the past decade. This interest is led by decolonial approaches to archives and knowledge production. Sound collections diversify what's available as historical texts, they increase the variety of languages and genres that speak of the histories of colonisation. They present alternative accounts and interpretations of history to offer a more balanced view of the past. • Anette Hoffmann: senior researcher at the Institute for African Studies and Egyptology, University of Cologne.
France 24
29-05-2025
- Business
- France 24
Sidi Ould Tah: Africa's new 'super banker'
The 60-year-old economist was the last to declare his candidacy for the post and ran a whirlwind campaign during which he highlighted his 10 years as head of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). He claimed to have transformed it from an institution "unknown to rating agencies" to one of the highest-rated development organisations in Africa. "I have demonstrated my transformative leadership style that has elevated the bank to the level of a leading player in the African development landscape," he said in his application statement to the AfDB. A discreet man who speaks sparingly, his style will be a clear contrast with his flamboyant predecessor, Nigeria's Akinwumi Adesina. Tah's programme is based on four main points: strengthening regional financial institutions; asserting Africa's financial independence in global markets; leveraging demographic dynamics as a development tool; and building resilient infrastructure to climate change. His entourage is touting his ability to replicate his successes at the BADEA at a larger institution like the AfDB, which has $318 billion in capital. "The AfDB has to abandon traditional bureaucratic models for a more fluid approach based on results," he said. African legitimacy Tah, who was Mauritania's economy minister from 2008 to 2015, is calling for a "break with the approaches of the past", in a world where the "challenges and opportunities of Africa have taken a new dimension". The new AfDB president speaks French, English, Arabic and Wolof, which is spoken in several west African countries. He managed the impressive feat of rallying diplomatically diverse supporters behind his candidacy, from Sahel countries such as Mali to France. His score of more than 72 percent among African voters gives him continental legitimacy. His entourage claimed before the vote he had support from the very first round from all African regions. US President Donald Trump's administration has vowed to suspend $500 million in aid to the AfDB, but Tah has argued other financial backers such as Gulf countries could step in. On environmental questions, he intends to promote Africa's natural resources to move towards a "viable energy transition, reconciling economic and environmental imperatives". "Even though Africa is a minimal contributor to global CO2 emissions, it bears the full brunt of the effects of climate change," he said. "It is therefore imperative to integrate sustainable practices and to harness renewable energy in development projects." Tah holds a master's degree in economics from the University of Nouakchott in his native Mauritania and a doctorate from the University of Nice in France.
Zawya
01-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Ndiamé Diop Appointed as World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa
The World Bank has appointed Ndiamé Diop as the new Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, effective today. In line with the World Bank's efforts to be closer to clients and enhance service delivery, Diop will be based in Nairobi, Kenya. As Vice President, he will oversee an active regional portfolio of almost 400 projects worth over $76 billion and an extensive program of cutting-edge analytical work, technical assistance, and policy advice across 26 countries. Under Diop's leadership, the World Bank will continue to work closely with clients and partners to advance strategic priorities in the region, including job creation, energy access, digital connectivity, regional integration, health, water and sanitation, and education — all of which underpin poverty reduction and spur economic transformation in the region. Diop will also guide efforts to address the drivers of fragility, conflict, and violence to build more resilient communities. With over 25 years of experience working across East Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, Diop brings a global perspective and a strong track record of achieving results and impact, including tripling World Bank financing to the Philippines to support economic reforms and improve outcomes in various sectors. In his most recent role as Country Director for Nigeria, Diop led the World Bank's largest portfolio in Africa ($17 billion) and shaped the future Nigeria program to support faster economic growth through policy reforms, digital broadband connectivity, firms' access to finance and agribusiness growth. He holds a Ph D in Economics and has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and books on topics such as fiscal policy and growth, monetary policy and inflation, natural resource abundance, Dutch disease, and economic diversification. He is fluent in French, English, and Wolof and possesses an intermediate level fluency of Arabic and Bahasa (Indonesian). Diop succeeds Victoria Kwakwa, who retired on March 31, 2025. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.
Al Jazeera
19-03-2025
- Health
- Al Jazeera
‘I nearly died': Taba, the tobacco drug Gambian women share in secret
Banjul, The Gambia – On a humid March afternoon on the outskirts of Banjul, a woman known only as Saf* carries a basket of plants from her garden. Moving with urgency to avoid prying eyes, she makes her way to a hidden location, where the air is thick with the earthy scent of raw, unprocessed tobacco leaves waiting to be turned into the popular drug taba. Suddenly, her phone rings. A customer. She smiles knowingly. 'She's one of my favourites because she keeps coming back,' says Saf, whose name is a code word that means 'sweet' in Wolof. Secrecy is important, says the 68-year-old taba seller, who for decades has made and discretely sold the substance to women. Taba, a local Mandinka word for powdered tobacco, has been consumed in The Gambia for generations, usually through smoking, snuffing and chewing. But in recent years, taba, modified by adding other substances to the tobacco powder, is being used for different purposes. Sellers like Saf take regular taba and mix it with potent chemicals to enhance its intoxicating effect. Many women then use it intravaginally, believing it enhances sexual pleasure. Meanwhile, others, including some traditional healers, insist its intravaginal use has medicinal properties – from helping treat genital infections and headaches to conditions like epilepsy, hypertension and infertility – though these remain medically unproven. Though taba is not illegal, health authorities, doctors and activists in The Gambia warn of its dangers and caution against its use. But many women continue to seek it out. For Fatmata*, 36, 'taba works wonders.' Married for a decade, Fatmata's husband left for Europe just three years into their marriage. Struggling with his absence, a close friend introduced her to taba. 'I don't want to have extra-marital affairs for religious reasons, so I resort to taba,' she says, shyly. 'Worst mistake of my life' For others, the effects have been less favourable. The first time Rose*, 28, used taba after a friend suggested she try it, she felt an overwhelming sense of dizziness and nausea before violently vomiting. She continued trying, but the third time she used it, she says she nearly lost her life. 'I remember the burning sensation, the excruciating pain, and how my body reacted as if my insides were on fire,' she says. 'I could barely breathe and thought I was going to die.' The pain was intense but brief, she says. Afterwards, she fell asleep, and when she woke up, there was an uncomfortable ache between her legs. But she did not seek medical help, fearing it would expose her as a taba user at a time was the government was warning against it. After her ordeal, she pledged never to touch taba again. 'It is dangerous, and women need to stop inserting it into their genitals before it's too late,' she warns. Taraba*, 28, and Isatu*, 42, began using taba to address health concerns. 'Taba damaged my system,' says Taraba, who initially took it in an attempt to cure gonorrhoea. 'At first, I only used it for that purpose. But a month later, I began inserting it into my vagina for pleasure. That was the worst mistake of my life.' What followed was excruciating. 'It felt like fire burning inside me, and my whole body became [temporarily] paralysed.' Unlike Rose, whose pain was brief, hers lasted for an entire week. Isatu also first used it as a supposed remedy for gonorrhoea. 'I first heard about this powder three years ago from a colleague. She told me she had used it in her vagina to relieve a bad headache, and it worked.' But when Isatu tried it, 'I was bleeding profusely; I nearly died.' Neither Taraba nor Isatu sought medical help, choosing instead to endure their pain in silence. Isatu says she remains traumatised from the experience. Regular user Fatmata, however, insists that taba has no harmful effects on her health and claims most women use it with no complaints. Taba seller Saf agrees, saying most of her customers have been buying from her for years. 'If it was harmful, they wouldn't keep coming back.' 'Intravaginal taba is harmful' Little is known about the health consequences of intravaginal taba, according to the peer-reviewed journal, Tobacco Control. But it is 'likely to have negative health effects' based on what is known about the use of other smokeless tobacco, said the authors of a 2023 paper on taba. 'Intravaginal taba is harmful,' insists Dr Karamo Suwareh, a gynaecologist at Kanifing General Hospital, the second largest public hospital in the country. 'It causes irritation, infections, burning sensations, itching, foul-smelling discharge, and bleeding during intercourse,' he tells Al Jazeera. Dr Suwareh warns that taba contains carcinogens, and says research is needed to see whether it could lead to cervical and vaginal cancers. During pregnancy, the nicotine and other unknown substances may increase the risks of preterm labour, foetal growth restriction, and stillbirth. 'Taba disrupts vaginal pH, making women more vulnerable to STIs like gonorrhoea, syphilis, and HIV. It damages tissue instead of healing it.' Gambia's Ministry of Health has been vocal about the potential health risks of using taba intravaginally, cautioning that it could pose an increased risk of cancer or life-threatening complications during childbirth. Some women use it in an attempt to ease labour pains, but medical experts warn that it can cause severe harm instead. The ministry has used social media to educate the public on the risks, and in a video that went viral, Minister of Health Lamin Samateh was seen addressing a gathering in a local language to warn about its harmful effects. 'Taba is dangerous, and women should reject it,' said Minister Samateh in the video that first emerged online in 2022. Women's rights organisations have also been raising awareness about the harmful effects of taba. 'No woman should feel pressured into harmful practices like taba,' says Sariba Badjie, a programme officer at NGO The Girls' Agenda. 'Our goal is to provide women with the knowledge and support they need to make decisions about their health without fear or stigma.' Mbassey Manneh, a human rights activist, has also been outspoken about its use. But she notes how rooted the use of taba is among communities of the Gambian women. 'If you go to naming ceremonies and social events, you will find women selling taba among themselves,' she tells Al Jazeera. 'Many of these women are not sexually satisfied by their husbands, so they turn to taba as an alternative.' Some women even speak in code when referring to taba. 'They call it 'simang kolla' a-Mandinka for 'after dinner',' Manneh says. A secret recipe Though no law currently bans intravaginal taba, its taboo nature prompts the secrecy surrounding it – and both sellers and buyers operate in the shadows. Taba is commonly sold secretly in markets and within circles of older women, but it is not available in shops. For Saf, who runs a makeshift business on the outskirts of Banjul near patches of farmland and grazing cattle, discretion is key. 'I sell taba for a living – it makes me happy when people come to me because of a simple recommendation,' she says with a broad smile, taking pride in the fact that word of mouth brings her new customers. Saf's location is known only to trusted customers, and in the community where she lives and works, she is known as a gardener who sells regular plants in the marketplace. 'My family isn't entirely against me selling it [taba], but they don't want me to do it publicly, for fear of being arrested or exposed,' she reveals. At her shop, the taba is typically wrapped in paper or plastic. For 5 dalasi (7 cents), her customers get a small pinch – just enough for a single use. The 15-dalasi (21-cent) portion is slightly larger but still modest. Heavy users or those buying in bulk may spend up to 500 dalasi ($7) at once. A larger quantity, such as what bulk buyers get, can fill a tea mug. Saf says she sources her raw tobacco leaves from a supplier in Guinea-Bissau and processes them herself, mixing them with other substances to make them 'more powerful'. Some claim intoxicants such as heroin are added. 'It's a secret recipe,' she tells Al Jazeera when asked what's in her mix. 'I never share it with anyone.' The taba supply chain extends beyond The Gambia. Tobacco traders like Saikou Camara, who sources his stock from Guinea-Bissau and Casamance, both to the south of the country, insists that taba products should not be used in the wrong way. 'I've heard that women are using it for other reasons, but that's not what it's meant for,' he says. 'I don't believe it cures back pain or enhances sexual pleasure. Taba is meant for inhaling, nothing else.' The sellers, though, believe in the unproven health benefits of their product. At one of the busiest markets in Banjul, a 75-year-old seller insists on taba's medicinal properties, claiming it heals wounds, relieves back pain and cures headaches. At her makeshift stall, the woman who has been in the trade for decades works openly but also in secret. To the unsuspecting eye, she is just another vendor selling cooking ingredients. But tucked away in a clay jar – one that looks abandoned at first glance – is the taba. Each transaction is swift and calculated; she scans the surroundings before carefully opening the jar, retrieving the product, and slipping it into the hands of a waiting customer. When asked if she takes the jar home, she shook her head. 'I leave the jar, but I go home with the taba.' Women travel from across the country to buy taba from her, she says. At her stall, a customer from a rural village buys taba worth 2,000 dalasi ($28). The woman, in her 50s or 60s, is a seller too – she purchases it in bulk, repackages it, and resells it in her village at a higher price. 'She'll be back next month for more,' the older seller says. Government clampdown? According to a 2023 study published in the Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 63.2 percent of the Gambian women sampled were current users of intravaginal tobacco powder. The study revealed that women over 40 were 3.2 times more likely to use taba than younger women, while women in rural areas were 2.2 times more likely to use it compared with urban dwellers. Despite some research into taba use, Dr Mustapha Bittaye, the chief medical director of Gambia's only teaching hospital, says data on the health effects remains limited. 'We lack sufficient evidence to draw a definitive conclusion,' he tells Al Jazeera. 'As a ministry [of health], we will conduct a more thorough and objective study to properly assess the scale of the issue.' While general tobacco use is regulated in the country – smoking, for example, is prohibited indoors and in public places – the use of tobacco powder including taba remains unregulated. Dr Bittaye suggests that a starting point in addressing the taba issue may be the Tobacco Control Act, which legislates how the substance is used and sold, while the Ministry of Health works with NGOs to educate the Gambian women about the dangers of taba. But while the authorities deliberate, women continue to demand it and sellers are happy to supply. 'I make a lot of money from selling taba,' Saf says. 'The government and other people saying it's harmful won't give me what I earn from this business.' And what if the government does clamp down? 'We will just find new ways to keep our trade alive,' the seller says. 'Women need it. They'll always find a way to come to us, and we'll always find a way to help them.'
Al Jazeera
19-03-2025
- Health
- Al Jazeera
‘I nearly died': Taba, the tobacco drug the Gambian women share in secret
Banjul, The Gambia – On a humid March afternoon on the outskirts of Banjul, a woman known only as Saf* carries a basket of plants from her garden. Moving with urgency to avoid prying eyes, she makes her way to a hidden location, where the air is thick with the earthy scent of raw, unprocessed tobacco leaves waiting to be turned into the popular drug taba. Suddenly, her phone rings. A customer. She smiles knowingly. 'She's one of my favourites because she keeps coming back,' says Saf, whose name is a code word that means 'sweet' in Wolof. Secrecy is important, says the 68-year-old taba seller, who for decades has made and discretely sold the substance to women. Taba, a local Mandinka word for powdered tobacco, has been consumed in The Gambia for generations, usually through smoking, snuffing and chewing. But in recent years, taba, modified by adding other substances to the tobacco powder, is being used for different purposes. Sellers like Saf take regular taba and mix it with potent chemicals to enhance its intoxicating effect. Many women then use it intravaginally, believing it enhances sexual pleasure. Meanwhile, others, including some traditional healers, insist its intravaginal use has medicinal properties – from helping treat genital infections and headaches to conditions like epilepsy, hypertension and infertility – though these remain medically unproven. Though taba is not illegal, health authorities, doctors and activists in The Gambia warn of its dangers and caution against its use. But many women continue to seek it out. For Fatmata*, 36, 'taba works wonders.' Married for a decade, Fatmata's husband left for Europe just three years into their marriage. Struggling with his absence, a close friend introduced her to taba. 'I don't want to have extra-marital affairs for religious reasons, so I resort to taba,' she says, shyly. 'Worst mistake of my life' For others, the effects have been less favourable. The first time Rose*, 28, used taba after a friend suggested she try it, she felt an overwhelming sense of dizziness and nausea before violently vomiting. She continued trying, but the third time she used it, she says she nearly lost her life. 'I remember the burning sensation, the excruciating pain, and how my body reacted as if my insides were on fire,' she says. 'I could barely breathe and thought I was going to die.' The pain was intense but brief, she says. Afterwards, she fell asleep, and when she woke up, there was an uncomfortable ache between her legs. But she did not seek medical help, fearing it would expose her as a taba user at a time was the government was warning against it. After her ordeal, she pledged never to touch taba again. 'It is dangerous, and women need to stop inserting it into their genitals before it's too late,' she warns. Taraba*, 28, and Isatu*, 42, began using taba to address health concerns. 'Taba damaged my system,' says Taraba, who initially took it in an attempt to cure gonorrhoea. 'At first, I only used it for that purpose. But a month later, I began inserting it into my vagina for pleasure. That was the worst mistake of my life.' What followed was excruciating. 'It felt like fire burning inside me, and my whole body became [temporarily] paralysed.' Unlike Rose, whose pain was brief, hers lasted for an entire week. Isatu also first used it as a supposed remedy for gonorrhoea. 'I first heard about this powder three years ago from a colleague. She told me she had used it in her vagina to relieve a bad headache, and it worked.' But when Isatu tried it, 'I was bleeding profusely; I nearly died.' Neither Taraba nor Isatu sought medical help, choosing instead to endure their pain in silence. Isatu says she remains traumatised from the experience. Regular user Fatmata, however, insists that taba has no harmful effects on her health and claims most women use it with no complaints. Taba seller Saf agrees, saying most of her customers have been buying from her for years. 'If it was harmful, they wouldn't keep coming back.' 'Intravaginal taba is harmful' Little is known about the health consequences of intravaginal taba, according to the peer-reviewed journal, Tobacco Control. But it is 'likely to have negative health effects' based on what is known about the use of other smokeless tobacco, said the authors of a 2023 paper on taba. 'Intravaginal taba is harmful,' insists Dr Karamo Suwareh, a gynaecologist at Kanifing General Hospital, the second largest public hospital in the country. 'It causes irritation, infections, burning sensations, itching, foul-smelling discharge, and bleeding during intercourse,' he tells Al Jazeera. Dr Suwareh warns that taba contains carcinogens, and says research is needed to see whether it could lead to cervical and vaginal cancers. During pregnancy, the nicotine and other unknown substances may increase the risks of preterm labour, foetal growth restriction, and stillbirth. 'Taba disrupts vaginal pH, making women more vulnerable to STIs like gonorrhoea, syphilis, and HIV. It damages tissue instead of healing it.' Gambia's Ministry of Health has been vocal about the potential health risks of using taba intravaginally, cautioning that it could pose an increased risk of cancer or life-threatening complications during childbirth. Some women use it in an attempt to ease labour pains, but medical experts warn that it can cause severe harm instead. The ministry has used social media to educate the public on the risks, and in a video that went viral, Minister of Health Lamin Samateh was seen addressing a gathering in a local language to warn about its harmful effects. 'Taba is dangerous, and women should reject it,' said Minister Samateh in the video that first emerged online in 2022. Women's rights organisations have also been raising awareness about the harmful effects of taba. 'No woman should feel pressured into harmful practices like taba,' says Sariba Badjie, a programme officer at NGO The Girls' Agenda. 'Our goal is to provide women with the knowledge and support they need to make decisions about their health without fear or stigma.' Mbassey Manneh, a human rights activist, has also been outspoken about its use. But she notes how rooted the use of taba is among communities of the Gambian women. 'If you go to naming ceremonies and social events, you will find women selling taba among themselves,' she tells Al Jazeera. 'Many of these women are not sexually satisfied by their husbands, so they turn to taba as an alternative.' Some women even speak in code when referring to taba. 'They call it 'simang kolla' a-Mandinka for 'after dinner',' Manneh says. A secret recipe Though no law currently bans intravaginal taba, its taboo nature prompts the secrecy surrounding it – and both sellers and buyers operate in the shadows. Taba is commonly sold secretly in markets and within circles of older women, but it is not available in shops. For Saf, who runs a makeshift business on the outskirts of Banjul near patches of farmland and grazing cattle, discretion is key. 'I sell taba for a living – it makes me happy when people come to me because of a simple recommendation,' she says with a broad smile, taking pride in the fact that word of mouth brings her new customers. Saf's location is known only to trusted customers, and in the community where she lives and works, she is known as a gardener who sells regular plants in the marketplace. 'My family isn't entirely against me selling it [taba], but they don't want me to do it publicly, for fear of being arrested or exposed,' she reveals. At her shop, the taba is typically wrapped in paper or plastic. For 5 dalasi (7 cents), her customers get a small pinch – just enough for a single use. The 15-dalasi (21-cent) portion is slightly larger but still modest. Heavy users or those buying in bulk may spend up to 500 dalasi ($7) at once. A larger quantity, such as what bulk buyers get, can fill a tea mug. Saf says she sources her raw tobacco leaves from a supplier in Guinea-Bissau and processes them herself, mixing them with other substances to make them 'more powerful'. Some claim intoxicants such as heroin are added. 'It's a secret recipe,' she tells Al Jazeera when asked what's in her mix. 'I never share it with anyone.' The taba supply chain extends beyond The Gambia. Tobacco traders like Saikou Camara, who sources his stock from Guinea-Bissau and Casamance, both to the south of the country, insists that taba products should not be used in the wrong way. 'I've heard that women are using it for other reasons, but that's not what it's meant for,' he says. 'I don't believe it cures back pain or enhances sexual pleasure. Taba is meant for inhaling, nothing else.' The sellers, though, believe in the unproven health benefits of their product. At one of the busiest markets in Banjul, a 75-year-old seller insists on taba's medicinal properties, claiming it heals wounds, relieves back pain and cures headaches. At her makeshift stall, the woman who has been in the trade for decades works openly but also in secret. To the unsuspecting eye, she is just another vendor selling cooking ingredients. But tucked away in a clay jar – one that looks abandoned at first glance – is the taba. Each transaction is swift and calculated; she scans the surroundings before carefully opening the jar, retrieving the product, and slipping it into the hands of a waiting customer. When asked if she takes the jar home, she shook her head. 'I leave the jar, but I go home with the taba.' Women travel from across the country to buy taba from her, she says. At her stall, a customer from a rural village buys taba worth 2,000 dalasi ($28). The woman, in her 50s or 60s, is a seller too – she purchases it in bulk, repackages it, and resells it in her village at a higher price. 'She'll be back next month for more,' the older seller says. Government clampdown? According to a 2023 study published in the Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 63.2 percent of the Gambian women sampled were current users of intravaginal tobacco powder. The study revealed that women over 40 were 3.2 times more likely to use taba than younger women, while women in rural areas were 2.2 times more likely to use it compared with urban dwellers. Despite some research into taba use, Dr Mustapha Bittaye, the chief medical director of Gambia's only teaching hospital, says data on the health effects remains limited. 'We lack sufficient evidence to draw a definitive conclusion,' he tells Al Jazeera. 'As a ministry [of health], we will conduct a more thorough and objective study to properly assess the scale of the issue.' While general tobacco use is regulated in the country – smoking, for example, is prohibited indoors and in public places – the use of tobacco powder including taba remains unregulated. Dr Bittaye suggests that a starting point in addressing the taba issue may be the Tobacco Control Act, which legislates how the substance is used and sold, while the Ministry of Health works with NGOs to educate the Gambian women about the dangers of taba. But while the authorities deliberate, women continue to demand it and sellers are happy to supply. 'I make a lot of money from selling taba,' Saf says. 'The government and other people saying it's harmful won't give me what I earn from this business.' And what if the government does clamp down? 'We will just find new ways to keep our trade alive,' the seller says. 'Women need it. They'll always find a way to come to us, and we'll always find a way to help them.'
