Next: about 28 Nov 2026
The cattle crossing at Diafarabé
Each late November, Fulani herders swim thousands of cattle across the Niger at Diafarabé to the dry-season pastures of the delta.
Cattle at The cattle crossing at Diafarabé
Diafarabé, a small town on the Niger in central Mali, is the scene of the best known of the dewgal, the Fulani festivals that mark the return of the herds to the inner Niger delta. After the rainy season on the drylands to the north, the herders bring their cattle back to the delta's flood pastures, and at Diafarabé the animals cross the river in long lines, swimming with herders beside them. The date is set each year by the elders, depending on the height of the water. The herds are judged as they come ashore, young herders are honoured, and the town celebrates with music, poetry and new clothes. The crossings are listed by UNESCO as intangible heritage.
Also part of it, and being written: White Fulani (The lyre-horned white zebu of the Fulani herds.), Red Bororo (A red Fulani zebu of the Sahel and the delta.).
Written by the EveryCow desk with AI assistance. Background: "Diafarabé" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.