Except indicated otherwise, all photographs are by Walter van Beek.
| 1 | Part of the team singing: Baire Kènugo, Agèmè Domiyon, Mèba Asama and Emanuel Dogolu. Bamako 2018 | XVII |
| 2 | Basic melody of the baja ni. Courtesy of Martin Hoondert | 2 |
| 3 | Akuni Aborko and Mèba Asama with the large and small barubɔ start up the pre-session of the 2005 performance | 4 |
| 4 | The crowned crane, Balearica pavonina, symbol of the baja ni singers. Photo credit: https://ebird.org/species/blccra1, downloaded 15-04-2024 | 10 |
| 5 | The bɛjɛ mask announces a demise. Idieli 2008 | 13 |
| 6 | As part of the 2008 dama a group of kanaga masks performs before the Tireli audience | 16 |
| 7 | A singing troupe, the baji ni singers of Tireli in 1989. Note the lances and the death blankets over their left shoulder | 19 |
| 8 | Abirè’s travels in Dogon country. Nel de Vink Map Design | 21 |
| 9 | Visiting the abode of the dead, up in the cliffside. Amani 1980 | 23 |
| 10 | Abirè had good personal relations with individual Fulbe, which is still the case these days. Here Dogolu Tigemu (right) greets ‘his’ Pulo, the one who herds his cattle. Tireli 2008 | 30 |
| 11 | Amono Amagara, the oldest man of Tireli, names a new-born from his clan. Tireli 1980 | 33 |
| 12 | ‘Who sits in the shadow of his granary’: the granary of an old man. Drawing by Frans Stelling | 41 |
| 13 | Part of the audience during the baja ni performance of 2005 | 44 |
| 14 | Anangalu Asègè and Akuni Aborko (with death blanket on his head) drumming the barubɔ | 48 |
| 15 | Normalcy according to Abirè, youngsters who gather to dance; the dancing group of the Sodanga ward performs at the market place. Tireli 2005 | 54 |
| 16 | Making peace: Amaseru Yèngulu sacrifices for a household. Tireli 2000 | 58 |
| 17 | At the start of an arranged baja ni session Dogolu Tigemu and Amaga Amènu call the singers. Tireli 1995 | 61 |
| 18 | Hamidou Daouda with his ghetto blaster, recording the baja ni of 2005 | 62 |
| 19 | The pre-session is nearing its end, and Monuhire Aninyu leads the troupe from the compound towards the tay. Tireli 2005 | 113 |
| 20 | The start of the session on the tay. From left to right: Agèmè Domiyon, Adomu Aninyu, Amaninyu Akunyon, Banbiè Olu, and Ana Adiye, all from Tireli | 115 |
| 21 | On the day after the baja ni, mock battles are held as part of the yu yana. Here Apomi Balugo (left) and his brother Domo feign a fight, with their sister in between. Tireli 2008 | 171 |
| 22 | The public at the tay. Tireli 2005 | 173 |
| 23 | After the long night of singing the singers take a small rest, but the drums never stop. From left to right Banbiè Olu, Agèmè Domiyon, Mèba Asama, Monuhire Aninyu, in the white gown Èwèlu Ana behind Ana Adiye, and at the back Amaninyu Akunyon | 260 |
| 24 | After the closing song, Monjè Dingubirè (partly visible), Amaseru Yèngulu, and Akuni Aborko rest, while Dogolu Tigemu, at the right, keeps singing | 265 |