June 8, 2005

Herald Sun

by John Mccann

Bonjour Africa Malaria Project

Bouna's back beckoning the Bull City for bucks. But the dollar bills could help blast bugs, and your benevolence would be tax-deductible.

"Meaning the people are really coming for free and still supporting a good cause," said Bouna Ndiaye (sounds like IN' jye).

After raising nearly $3,400 last year to provide malaria medicine for 700 children in his homeland of Linguere, Senegal, Ndiaye is hosting another party to raise money to fight the disease that annually kills millions around the world.

The African dinner and dance party is 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday at Ivy Community Center, 4418 Fayetteville Road. Tickets are $20, enough money to provide malaria medicine for two children.

Call Ndiaye at 215-4765 or go to www.bonjourafrica.com to find out more information. The Web site couldn't answer all my questions, though. So I asked Ndiaye how come his people in Africa can't do like Americans and put on insect repellent or stay indoors after dusk.

Ndiaye explained that the Senegalese government's been squirting bug spray for years.

As for not coming out in the evening, Ndiaye said, "If a mosquito is in your room, the mosquitoes don't care if it's night or day."

Sounds like a bunch of bugs over there.

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