Every day, nine-year-old Abdoul gets into his father's dugout canoe, and crosses the Niger River to reach his island school. The trip is an opportunity for him to sing with his friends, to review his lessons — and, if he is lucky, to get a look at the hippos that live on this part of the river.

A DAY WITH... is a series of eight short documentary portraits of African children, each made by a different African filmmaker. The children are between seven and twelve years old. They live in Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Each short film tells the story of an ordinary day-at school, at home-from a different child's point of view. Each day has its upbeats and offbeats, its routine and surprises. The collection offers an insight into different types of education and questions the influence of culture in the shaping of daily life.