Photographer Andy Hall joins the thousands of fans from west Africa who have gathered for Baaba Maal's annual Blues du Fleuve festival in Senegal. Here: A street scene in Podor, the northernmost town in Senegal that plays host to the festival. (Photo by Andy Hall/The Observer)





Boys play in the river Fleuve, which forms the border between Senegal and Mauritania, and passes through Guinea and Mali. (Photo by Andy Hall/The Observer)





Musicians in Podor prepare for the event. (Photo by Andy Hall/The Observer)





Crowds gather at the riverfront, as musicians and dancers kick off the festival. (Photo by Andy Hall/The Observer)





Two girls in Podor. (Photo by Andy Hall/The Observer)





Performers at the river Fleuve. (Photo by Andy Hall/The Observer)





Fittingly, for a festival named after a river, Blues du Fleuve opens with a regatta. (Photo by Andy Hall/The Observer)





Crowds waiting for Baaba Maal. (Photo by Andy Hall/The Observer)





Baaba Maal makes his entrance aboard a fishing boat. (Photo by Andy Hall/The Observer)





Baaba Maal greets his fans. (Photo by Andy Hall/The Observer)





Baaba Maal's compound where musicians rehearse. (Photo by Andy Hall/The Observer)





Dancers wait to perform on stage. (Photo by Andy Hall/The Observer)





Festivalgoers dancing at Baaba Maal's show. (Photo by Andy Hall/The Observer)