A meeting on French soil allowed us to discover the Malian shepherd Yaya Touré, who watches over the sheep and goats of the Chanteraines park in Villeneuve-la-Garenne. His story, which unites Mali and France, reveals the beauty and simplicity of an ancestral profession. Nestled in Seine-Saint-Denis, near the tumultuous city of Paris, this green island offers a welcome break to the inhabitants of the surrounding apartment blocks.
Yaya Touré embodies this peaceful and indispensable figure of a shepherd, responsible for protecting and guiding his flocks across the vast expanses of the park. His atypical journey highlights the contrast between urban modernity and pastoral tradition, offering a living testimony to the cultural richness that is mixed in our contemporary societies.
Beyond his role as guardian of the flocks, Yaya Touré also embodies a precious link with nature, recalling the importance of preserving our environment and maintaining green spaces in the heart of cities. His discreet presence in the urban landscape invites us to reflect on our relationship with nature and the need to protect the fragile ecosystems that surround us.
Through his daily commitment and passion for his profession, Yaya Touré embodies the simplicity and authenticity of a life in harmony with nature. His story reveals the beauty and poetry of a profession that is too often overlooked, but essential to the balance of our societies. By sweeping aside prejudices and offering a new perspective on the daily life of this Malian shepherd, we rediscover all the richness and depth of an ancestral profession that has stood the test of time, to remind us of the beauty and simplicity of pastoral life.