Mal.mw2.1.120.xsFrom coverage of revisit to Material World Project family in Mali, 2001. The Natomo family, with the few new possessions they have acquired since the shooting of the photograph of the family with all of its possessions for the 1994 book Material World: A Global Family Portrait. Left to right, front row: Fourou (12, daughter of Fatoumata and Soumana); Mamadou (10, son of Pama and Soumana); Fatoumata (10, daughter of Fatoumata and Soumana); Mama (8, son of Fatoumata and Soumana); Kansy (4, son of Fatoumata and Soumana). left to right, back row: Soumana Natomo (46, husband of Pama and Fatoumata); Pama Kondo, 35, wife of Soumana and co-wife of Fatoumata Toure); Mama, (13, son of Pama and Soumana); Kontie (16, son of Pama and Soumana); and Pai (18, daughter of Pama and Soumana); Fatoumata, (33, wife of Soumana and co-wife of Pama) holding Tena (4 months, daughter of Fatoumata and Soumana). In some big picture photos you can see three extended family members on the ground below: Kadia Foune who is Soumana’s sister-in-law and currently living with the family along with her two children, Mariyam, 8, and Kontie, 2, while her husband works in Ivory Coast). New Possessions: The family’s only new material possessions since 1993 are a few pieces of clothing, arranged in front of them on the roof of their earthen house; a plastic teapot, and a new storage room in the market area. Part of the courtyard has been repaired and replastered in the years since the first big picture. {{Since the coverage of the Natomo family for Material World: A Global Family Portrait in 1993, Soumana Natomo has gained greater importance in the community administration due in large part to his quiet demeanor and gentle disposition—good qualities for an arbiter of village affairs. Pama Kondo, his first wife, is a grain trader alongside of Soumana and they have built this into a business that supports the family of 15 people (including three extended family members who are now living wit

Mal.mw.712.xs Fatoumata Toure stirs a pot of porridge on the roof of her home in the village of Kouakourou, Mali. The Natomo family (Soumana Natomo, his two wives—Pama Kondo and Fatoumata Toure—and 7 children) lives in two mud brick houses in the village of Kouakourou, Mali, on the banks of the Niger River. Work. {{They are grain traders and own a mango orchard. According to tradition Soumana is allowed to take up to four wives; he has two. Wives Pama and Fatoumata are partners in the family and care for their many children together. They have separate households but share meals in the courtyard of Pama’s house. The older children help care for the younger children and help with sweeping the mud brick courtyard, and dish washing and clothes washing in the Niger River. Family members are: Soumana Natomo (39, father); Pama Kondo (28, first wife); Fatoumata Toure (26, second wife); Pai Natomo (11, daughter of Soumana and Pama); Kontie Natomo (9, son of Soumana and Pama); Mama Natomo (6, son of Soumana and Pama); Mamadou (3, son of Soumana and Pama); Toure Natomo (5, daughter of Soumana and Fatoumata); Fatoumata Natomo (3, daughter of Soumana and Fatoumata); Mama Natomo (1, son of Soumana and Fatoumata). From Peter Menzel’s Material World Project that showed 30 statistically average families in 30 countries with all of their possessions.}}

Mal.mw.711.xsThe Imam of Kouakourou village on the banks of the Niger River in Mali, teaches a Koranic lesson to students. Several of Soumana Natomo’s children attend these classes, along with classes at what they call, “the modern school” taught in French — where they learn math and reading. Child. {{The Natomo family (Soumana Natomo, his two wives—Pama Kondo and Fatoumata Toure—and 7 children) lives in two mud brick houses in the village of Kouakourou, Mali, on the banks of the Niger River. They are grain traders and own a mango orchard. According to tradition Soumana is allowed to take up to four wives; he has two. Wives Pama and Fatoumata are partners in the family and care for their many children together. They have separate households but share meals in the courtyard of Pama’s house. The older children help care for the younger children and help with sweeping the mud brick courtyard, and dish washing and clothes washing in the Niger River. Family members are: Soumana Natomo (39, father); Pama Kondo (28, first wife); Fatoumata Toure (26, second wife); Pai Natomo (11, daughter of Soumana and Pama); Kontie Natomo (9, son of Soumana and Pama); Mama Natomo (6, son of Soumana and Pama); Mamadou (3, son of Soumana and Pama); Toure Natomo (5, daughter of Soumana and Fatoumata); Fatoumata Natomo (3, daughter of Soumana and Fatoumata); Mama Natomo (1, son of Soumana and Fatoumata). From Peter Menzel’s Material World Project that showed 30 statistically average families in 30 countries with all of their possessions.}}

Mal.mw.700.xsThe Natomo family poses for a portrait with all of their possessions on the roof of their home in Kouakourou, Mali. Standing, wearing yellow, is Soumana’s father. The Natomo family (Soumana Natomo, his two wives—Pama Kondo and Fatoumata Toure—and 7 children) lives in two mud brick houses in the village of Kouakourou, Mali, on the banks of the Niger River. {{They are grain traders and own a mango orchard. According to tradition Soumana is allowed to take up to four wives; he has two. Wives Pama and Fatoumata are partners in the family and care for their many children together. They have separate households but share meals in the courtyard of Pama’s house. The older children help care for the younger children and help with sweeping the mud brick courtyard, and dish washing and clothes washing in the Niger River. Family members are: Soumana Natomo (39, father); Pama Kondo (28, first wife); Fatoumata Toure (26, second wife); Pai Natomo (11, daughter of Soumana and Pama); Kontie Natomo (9, son of Soumana and Pama); Mama Natomo (6, son of Soumana and Pama); Mamadou (3, son of Soumana and Pama); Toure Natomo (5, daughter of Soumana and Fatoumata); Fatoumata Natomo (3, daughter of Soumana and Fatoumata); Mama Natomo (1, son of Soumana and Fatoumata). From Peter Menzel’s Material World Project that showed 30 statistically average families in 30 countries with all of their possessions.}}

Mal.mw.701.xsThe Natomo family poses for a portrait with all of their possessions on the roof of their home in Kouakourou, Mali. Standing, wearing yellow, is Soumana’s father. The Natomo family (Soumana Natomo, his two wives—Pama Kondo and Fatoumata Toure—and 7 children) lives in two mud brick houses in the village of Kouakourou, Mali, on the banks of the Niger River. {{They are grain traders and own a mango orchard. According to tradition Soumana is allowed to take up to four wives; he has two. Wives Pama and Fatoumata are partners in the family and care for their many children together. They have separate households but share meals in the courtyard of Pama’s house. The older children help care for the younger children and help with sweeping the mud brick courtyard, and dish washing and clothes washing in the Niger River. Family members are: Soumana Natomo (39, father); Pama Kondo (28, first wife); Fatoumata Toure (26, second wife); Pai Natomo (11, daughter of Soumana and Pama); Kontie Natomo (9, son of Soumana and Pama); Mama Natomo (6, son of Soumana and Pama); Mamadou (3, son of Soumana and Pama); Toure Natomo (5, daughter of Soumana and Fatoumata); Fatoumata Natomo (3, daughter of Soumana and Fatoumata); Mama Natomo (1, son of Soumana and Fatoumata). From Peter Menzel’s Material World Project that showed 30 statistically average families in 30 countries with all of their possessions.}}