Seb Toussaint

Fatmatou chose the word شباب (“youth” in arabic). Painted in the slum of Zaatar, Nouakchott, Mauritania. 

Fatmatou – 15 years old – chose the word “شباب” (pronounced “Shabaab” and meaning “Youth” in arabic).

Over 61% of Mauritania’s population is under 25 and in the slums of Nouakchott that figure might even be bigger. This means that the streets are vibrant with kids playing with footballs, sticks or tires.

This word is for all the youth, teenagers like Fatmatou and the younger kids that the teenagers look after while the parents are busy.

Umu chose the word “أصدقاء” (pronounced “Asdiqah” and meaning “Friends” in Arabic). Painted in the slum of Zaatar in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

Umu chose the word “أصدقاء” (“Friends” in Arabic). Umu’s house gives onto a small square lined with wooden barracks in which other families lives. She loves having so many friends living close to her and using the square as their playground.

As often, her word resonates with me since I’m doing this project with my 2 helpers Dudu and Abdul Malek who I’ve been friends with for over 17 years.

Zaatar is the neighbourhood we’ve chosen to work in for this new episode of Share The Word Project.

It’s a sandy stretch of land in the East of Noukchott with a few salty marshes. Very few trees grow here because of the salt in the ground. Families have built houses with wood from pallets and iron sheets that come from used barrels. The driest marchlands are used as open spaces where kids play and goats roam.

Majad wanted me to take a picture of him wearing his swimming cap which he’s very proud of.

Eshatou chose the word “ناقة” (“female camel” in arabic). Painted in the slum of Zaatar, Nouakchott, Mauritania.

Eshatou (25 years old) chose the word “نافة“ (pronounced “naqah” and meaning a female camel). Eshatou loves camel milk and drinks it every morning and evening. She also enjoys riding camels when she has the opportunity. Camels are a big part of the culture in the Sahara and Sahel regions, and particularly in Mauritania which is home to more the 1 million camels!

Ahmed chose the word « ماما» (Mama in Arabic) for his mother. Painted in the slum of Zaatar, Nouakchott, Mauritania on a new episode of Share The Word Project.

Ahmed (11 years old) chose the word “ماما” (Mama) for his mother. She’s bringing up 10 children while making a modest income selling vegetables in front of her house. She’s the type of strong woman who’s always smiling and who makes a tough life look fairly easy.

I’ve just started painting in a slum of Nouakchott, Mauritania for a new episode of Share The Word Project! 9 years ago I started this art project where I paint words that people choose on their houses. I do this specifically in slums and refugee camps. The idea is to paint the words – and tell the stories behind the words – of people who are largely ignored. I aim to use art to bring a bit of focus on marginalised communities. It’s an ongoing project that has taken me to so many countries through the years. Each time I stay one month in each slum, and this time I’m in Nouakchott.

I self-fund the project and I organise it myself. There are no sponsors, no NGOs behind me and I have no contacts in the slums I end up working in. I just meet the people and start painting !