If I could show you only one page of photos from CAR, it would be this one. Big Mama was a tremendous lady: a business woman, a mother, and somebody that could dish it out as well as she could take it. Big Mama's bar was located at the market closest to our house by the university, just across from the L'Hotel National. It was a small market, just a couple of stalls with women selling vegetables, a man selling bread, and Adoum grilling up fresh meat.

Every morning Mama would buy blocks of ice and lay it into the body of an old refrigerator that she had in her bar. She would then lay bottles of beer across the ice and cover everything up with some wet burlap so that the beer would be cold by afternoon. Once people started dropping by, Mama would set out some small chairs and tables and start holding court. She would tell jokes and stories, gossip, and keep everyone in her place lively and entertained.

And yes, to answer your question, Big Mama is wearing a wig in this photo. I do not understand the reason why, but wigs were definitely haute couture and she wanted to look her best for the photo.