The Man of the Trees

Daniel Balima is a senior horticulturist from Tenkodogo, a small Sub-Saharan African town in Burkina Faso, where he lives with his large family and has worked since he was born 67 years ago.

Daniel as a child falls ill with polio and, although growing without the use of his legs, he is able to follow his father in the family nursery, walking on his hands.

He works immediately with great passion and talent so much that his disability, which for many in Africa means a marked destiny, is for Daniel an opportunity: "I could take two paths: begging or taking my life in hand and devoting myself to work with dignity ". So every day he goes to the garden to work, despite the various difficulties he faces, both those related to his physical condition, and those related to the territory and he is happy, because he can keep the family and pay their studies to children and grandchildren.

Daniel has chosen and won this great challenge and, every day, he sows and cultivates with great effort and gratitude many vegetables and plants.

Often those who have no food go to the garden, because they know that even without money can open that gate, look into the eyes this generous man, who with a few gestures and a few kind words will make him collect and bring home what is necessary to feed.

In over fifty years of activity he has given life to more than a million trees and this is what is most important for Daniel because, as he tells us, his country, because of the drought, needs many trees and does not stop, on the contrary, he dreams of planting another million.

Director
Andrea Trivero

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Italy / Burkina Faso, 2018

Documentary – 18:55