This paper examines salient features of village labor markets in western Sudan. Labor markets are well established, contrary to conventional impressions that labor markets do not exist in villages of the semi-arid tropics. Wages vary considerably, and are not uniform across workers or villages or the agricultural season. Transactions are short term and casual; there is no long-term attached labor. Most transactions are on a task basis, rather than time rate. Work parties are primarily held by wealthier villagers, and are considerably less expensive than hired labor. These observations contrast with other descriptions of village labor markets.