Baobab Tree and Small Child

Photographer

Johnson, James

Date

• 1975

Summary

• The baobab is one of the symbols of Africa because they grow everywhere from the dry areas to the dense forests. The trunk, which is extremely thick and often hollow, may be used as the burial place of important griots (praise singers). The tree, therefore, remains a fairly mysterious entity to the people and has been worshipped in other parts of West Africa.