"A woman rides her motorcycle across the Niger River in Bamako, Mali. Mali, a country of 14 million people in West Africa long known for its ancient Islamic history and vibrant modern culture, was threatened with destruction when jihadist militants took over northern cities in 2012. With the imposition of their own despotic version of Islamic law, women were severely punished, forced to wear hijabs and burkas and banished from school and work. After an international coalition pushed out the jihadists in 2013, a fragile peace ensued and sporadic terrorist attacks continue to this day. I travelled across Mali for one month in 2013 to meet Malian women and share their stories of resistance and resilience."
