Menders and Sharpeners and Polishers

There is yet another group of men that saunters through the Niamey neighborhoods:  the service men. They  are an interesting set because some of them announce their presence by a certain noise that carries amazingly well over the noise of the busy streets. 

The menders/tailors carry their machines and supplies on their heads and announce their approach by constantly clanking the blades of a very large, loose fitting pair of sewing shears-one of those sounds that reverberates throughout the neighborhood.  

Notice the wad of zippers tied onto the machine.  Maybe that is a common mending need.

These machines are run by the hand wheel.  No electricity needed.
On the way to church we often see a mender sitting on the ground on the side of the road with his machine on the ground in front of him, mending away.  

This second group is yet a mystery to me.  They carry bottles of unknown (to me) liquids on their heads and as they walk along the busy streets, they have two small empty glass bottles on the fingers that they smack together to make a unique sound that also carries about the traffic noises.
I need to do my research to find out what they are selling.

This friendly soul was sitting in front of my gate as I returned home this week, sharpening the kitchen knives of our neighbors.  I first met him where I buy my fruit and vegetables and have seen him walking around the neighborhood with his sharpening device on his shoulder.

The shoe polishers are another important group.  The combination of the sandy, dusty roads and the cultural importance of having nicely shined shoes, these fellas do a good business.  There is usually a little stool for the client to sit on as well as a pair of flipflops to put on while the shoe polisher is doing his job.

There are other service men that I haven't snapped photos of as yet and I'm sure others that I have yet to discover.  Until then...