Because their valley had many hereditary cases of deafness, the community developed a village sign language that everyone, hearing and deaf, used daily.

We spent the afternoon wandering through a black and white village, admiring the timbered houses and hidden courtyards.

As the neighborhood organized after-school programs and watched out for the kids on our street, we often told young parents that it takes a village to raise a child.

The historian described the trade routes connecting the coastal villagesful.