Trimming dried raffia palm leaflets

Nafana mat weaver (deŋglɛ tinfun) Alexander Owusu uses a small knife to cut the midrib stick (extending upward) from the base of a raffia palm leaflet's blades (extending left) which he has cut free from the midrib. The stick will be used to make a broom (pɔyira) and the strands used in weaving a raffia mat (dɛŋglɛ). Untrimmed leaflets lay in a pile front of him. Trimmed strands (pinde) ready for use in weaving lie in the centre. Discarded edge trimmings are visible behind his right knee. These will be used as tinder in fire starting. Sabiye, Banda District, Ghana.