During the wet season, Numba ploughs and sows the land surrounding her homestead, but as soon as the pale blue skies mark the return of the long dry season, basketry becomes a crucial source of income.

First, she covers many kilometres through deep sand in the African bush in search for young Mokola palm leaves and the right dyes for their baskets, which are extracted from roots, leaves and tree bark. For safety, she is joined by others, as  elephants are sometimes encountered along the way, which also feed on the young shoots.