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summary

The narrator describes many changes in the life of the community, some for the better though many of them for the worse. The interview includes a long passage on changes in social relations.

detailed breakdown

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Section 1-2	Poor rainfall and deforestation as causes of loss of declining yields. Population growth and its impact. Marital infidelity and its effect on children.
Section 2	Development activities - SOS Sahel has helped with giving training and seeds and credit: “It is no longer necessary for a woman to kneel for a long time before grinding stone for grinding a small amount of grain. It could now be done in no time if you get the grain.” School being built. Lack of medical facilities, although traditional midwives now being trained.
Section 3-4	Briefly explains Qire, Senbetie, Mahber and Iqub (community associations). Describes weddings in the past - big celebrations - nowadays people cannot afford so much. Changes in social attitudes and behaviour – greater equality between men and women, less respect for elders, lax sexual morals: “Today they rush to kiss and soon she has become a mother of a bastard.”
Section 4	Property and traditional rules governing inheritance – different types of property for men and women: “Today let alone passing property on to the children, one doesn’t have enough food for daily consumption.”
Section 5	Differences between highlanders and lowlanders. Harmony between Muslims and Christians. Improvement in communications since the building of the Chinese road.
Section 6-7	New diseases – more severe than those prevalent in the past. Short song about syphilis. High incidence of adultery despite threat of AIDS. Drought and famine in 1984; types of assistance received. Famine occurring again now but no assistance – “Maybe the government has not heard about the famine.”