ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at seasonal migrants—who they are, where they go, and what they do. Four age-grades are most heavily involved in seasonal movement: the male o-dugu and o-palugu grades; and the female od-opalugu and od-odyar grades. The career pattern is therefore quite clear. Seasonal migrants from Etyolo are mainly young and unmarried. Marriage and the establishment of a household are the main factors shaping the migrant career pattern—first encouraging and then limiting movement for both men and women. Seasonal migrants find work mainly as domestic servants and day-laborers. Domestic work includes such tasks as cooking, washing, sweeping, ironing, pounding grain, and caring for children. Migrants also interact closely with the long-term Bassari community. In addition to living with their urban kin, seasonals participate actively in the events organized by Bassari townspeople. Seasonal migrants are often especially useful to townspeople as intermediaries between them and the rural villages.
