The Alchemy of Gambia

by Will Bendix

Chasing Elusive Perfection on West Africa’s Coast

The sound of metal on metal scraped through the air with a crack, sending the pack of naked boys that waited nervously on the shore scattering into the shallows. Behind them stood a tall, orange creature with fibrous cords covering its entire body like the straw stalks of a scarecrow, with each hand clutching a long, sharp blade. The air was tinged with smoke and steady beat swelled from a nearby drum circle as the creature again smashed the blades together and wailed to the ocean. It was time to lop off some foreskins.