Amid fuel crisis and conflict, Mali’s giant puppets bring life and hope to Bamako

From the 6th to the 8th November, a parade of giant puppets took to the streets of Bamako, the capital of Mali, for the annual puppet festival "Rendez-Vous Chez Nous". This happened despite a crippling oil blockade and security threats.

Now in its ninth year, the event brought together more than 200 puppets and attracted crowds eager for a moment of fun and relaxation.

Rooted in Mali's ancestral traditions, puppetry has long been a means of teaching and uniting communities.

And as the country faces economic hardship and insecurity, many see the festival as a rare space for joy, creativity and social connection.