The Myth of Sisyphus

In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was a man doomed to spend eternity rolling a boulder up a hill, at which point it would roll down again, and he would have to start all over again. Camus thought Sisyphus personified the absurd condition.

Yesterday a few of us visited a community project which is digging holes alongside the only road which leads to the town of Kindele. The holes form a drainage system, while the dirt they dig up is used for sandbags which shore up the road itself. All of the workers are unpaid volunteers from the town, who work in shifts when they can because they rely on the road, and because the town is downhill from the road, so the drainage systems are also essential to try and reduce the threat to their houses, schools and hospitals. The project is doing essential work, and at first glance seemed to have the potential to solve the problem and protect the town.

However, Freddie, who established the project, explained that they do the same job every year. Whenever the rainy season comes, which is from October to May, it washes away what they have done, and they must start all over again. Each year buildings and lives are lost, but there is no state support, even for the rebuilding of schools or hospitals, like the one which was destroyed in last year's rains. Freddie told me that "Hope is permitted", but not for now, only for the future. He said they need to construct a solid canal and to properly repair the road, but they cannot afford to do this themselves and the state has no concern with the road to Kindele, so they have no choice but to keep digging and to remain in an absurd condition.