Waiting in vain for the mayor of Bangui

I missed an appointment with the mayor of Bangui in order to go to the burialof a presumed witch. After many phone calls and a firm meeting time, I went to the Hotel de Ville (mayor’s office) to wait– again. No dice. I found this interesting wooden statue of a hippo wearing a suit on a stone plinth in the mayor’s garden. Apparently he is called “The Diplomat”. No comment.

–Laura Angela Bagnetto