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Family GoldmineIn photos: Village life in Tofola, Mali

Photographs from Robbie Fraser’s affectionate film of an extraordinary man on a quixotic quest, against incredible odds.

  • The village of Tofola: a home from home for the Nicolay's whilst they set up the goldmine
  • Claude searches the distance for signs of the coming monsoon
  • Eugene, the company geologist, has a golden eye for traces of the precious metal
  • Proof that gold exists on the site lifts Claude's spirits
  • Award winning Director of Photography Douglas Campbell
  • Claude calls his Saudi investors hopeful of good news
  • Malian police visit the site after another illegal goldrush
  • Tofola women help keep the Nicolay 'eco-mine' dream on track
  • Claude Nicolay
  • Moira Nicolay
  • Craig Nicolay
  • Pierre Nicolay
  • With a shortage of clay pigeon traps in Mali and confident his son is a good shot, Claude offers a manual alternative
  • Director Robbie Fraser (right) spent over three years shooting in Mali

This gallery is from

  • Family Goldmine

    A devoted father takes his family on one last adventure, to start a goldmine in Africa.

    BBC Two Scotland

Gallery