Tabaski

Tabaski is the sheep festival for Muslims (not much of a party for the sheep if you ask me). It is the day when Muslim families get together and sacrifice a sheep in commemoration of Abraham’s sacrifice to God. For the past week prior to Tabaski there have been sheep everywhere. The streets of downtown have been filed with flocks of well fed male sheep being led around in hopes that people will buy them. “La Tantie” as we call her out of respect (the mother of the house where we live) has been busy cooking about 20 guinea fowl, tigue digue nan (peanut sauce) and rice well into the night. I think she finally crawled into bed around 1 am. The next morning, up with the crack of dawn she is busy making tô and reheating her previous nights work. The men and boys have the duty and honour of sacrificing the sheep, this is done quickly and they work together. After all the meat is cleaned “La Tantie” divides up portions to share with the neighbours. She also shares meals of tô, guinea fowl, peanut sauce and rice with her neighbours and all who drop in to say hello and wish a good Tabaski. Then she cooks up the rest of the meat to share with family and friends. It is a day of eating! It is a day of talking! But most of all it is a day to visit your friends and family and to wish them health, happiness and good fortune in the new year!

Ani san koura (Happy New Year)!