- published: 05 Feb 2015
- views: 140
Ouadane or Wadan (Arabic: وادان) is a small town in the desert region of central Mauritania, situated on the southern edge of the Adrar Plateau, 93 km northeast of Chinguetti. The town was a staging post in the trans-Saharan trade and for caravans transporting slabs of salt from the mines at Idjil. A Portuguese trading post was established in 1487, but was probably soon abandoned. The town declined from the sixteenth century and most of the town now lies in ruins.
The old town, a World Heritage Site, though in ruins, is still substantially intact, while a small modern settlement lies outside its gate.
Ouadane is the closest town to the Richat Structure, a massive circular landmark visible from space.
The early history of the Ouadane is uncertain but it is possible that the town prospered from the trans-Saharan gold trade. In the middle of the 11th century, the Arabic geographer al-Bakri described a trans-Saharan route that ran between Tamdoult near Akka in Morocco to Aoudaghost on the southern edge of the Sahara. This route was used for the transport of gold during the time of the Ghana Empire. In his account al-Bakri mentioned a series of place names but these have not been identified and historians have suggested several possible routes. Raymond Mauny proposed a route that passed through Ouadane but Suzanne Daveau later argued in favour of a more direct route that crossed the Adrar escarpment to the east of the town. The volume of caravan traffic would have declined from the beginning of the 13th century when the oasis town of Oualata located 360 km to the east replaced Aoudaghost as the southern terminus of the trade route.
Dear mother I am lost and the damage has been done.
I’m in love with my old century fix and this needle can’t be wrong,
But I wonder?
Where do we go from here because we’re never coming home?
The sequel to this nightmare lasts forever, forever.
One last goodnight, with this painted picture in our minds the voice inside that sings tonight.
One last goodnight, with this painted picture in our minds the voice inside that sings tonight.
I’m not scared at all, so let’s walk away.
I’m not scared at all, so now walk away.
Dear mother now beyond the grave you’re the soul that wants me.
Front row with a cigarette, you’re the ghost that haunts me,
But I wonder?
I’m too fucked up to come home,
I swear this heart was made of stone,
I won’t pretend that everything’s alright when it’s not.
One last goodnight, with this painted picture in our minds the voice inside that sings tonight.
One last goodnight, with this painted picture in our minds the voice inside that sings tonight.
I’m not scared at all, so let’s walk away.
I’m not scared at all, so now walk away.
Wake me now drive faster, make me now a disaster,
Take me now live after and walk away.2x
Can you design living through hell and back again?
It’s the life that’s killing you walk away friend.
Can you design living through hell and back again?
It’s the life that’s killing you walk away WALK AWAY!!!
One last goodnight, with this painted picture in our minds the voice inside that sings tonight.