The seashells have accumulated over many years and held together by the roots of mangroves, reeds and giant baobabs. Heaps of empty shells lie everywhere, on streets and building facades and on trinkets sold by street hawkers.
Fadiouth is known mainly for its cemetery, which is also made out of shells. The residents of Fadiouth Island are mostly Christian, but they also have a significant Islamic population, and the close-knit community takes immense pride in an atmosphere of religious tolerance.