Tobaski

Around 9am we headed to the big mosque in town. Tobaski prayers are held in the grassy field nearby, because everyone from town can’t fit in the mosque comfortably. I prefer the outdoor setting. Binta (Sonja my new site mate), Bobo, Mariama, and I headed over together. Nene Umu had already left and the rest of the family ‘hadn’t bathed yet’ so they didn’t go. We sat with the women and girls in the back, and as Nene Umu pointed out, we couldn’t hear a word the Imam said.

As they prayed Nene Umu encouraged Binta and me to take photos in front of the women, but we didn’t venture up too close to the boys and men (I’m still not sure of the protocol). Though usually when I think someone is scowling at me for taking pics, they are actually making their most serious face and want me to photograph them. They burst into a full smile when I show them the pictures. So, I think I probably could have walked up next to the Imam and taken a nice portrait shot.

Samba, Abdou, and Musa slaughtered the goat with my knives (thanks for the knife set mom) and then the compound across the street borrowed my knives and id the same. Susana who’s been ‘sick’ for the past 2 months, she’s pregnant but it’s seen as bad luck to talk about it too early, luckily felt better. She’s by far the bast cook in the family. Domada and fouti for lunch!! Domada is peanut sauce and fouti is cous. Like real American style cous. Unlike what we call cous here, which is actually more like bird seed.

I was helping Susana cook when Samba handed me a bowl of meat and said this was for me to cook. WHAT?
‘Oh thanks…’ I took the meant in the back and began cleaning it. By cleaning it I mean making sure all the goat hairs were gone and removing the obvious wood splinters from the log they used as a ‘cutting board.’

Musa grilled the liver first, with oil and salt, delicious. And then Abdou grilled up some of the best meat. I went out to eat some of this, and Samba said “You’re cooking in the back?”
“Yea” (What did you expect me to do with it.)
“Oh here.” And handed me another very large handful of raw meat. Yum!

I took that back cut and cleaned it, poured soy sauce on top and let it all marinate for the rest of the day.

When I cooked it later and served it over pasta, they loved it. I can tell when they like something I make because they don’t say anything until the plate is empty. If they’re telling me “Oh Adama na welli (Oh Julia it’s sweet)” as they eat…no good.

This year I decided to treat Tobaski like Christmas and got everyone in my family presents. I’ve been with the Njie family for almost a year now, and often I bring veggies or attaya (green tea) or sometimes frozen chicken, but no individual presents. SO:
Nene Umu – Guru kola nuts
Samba – white and green stripped polo
Susana – make-up case
Ami – photo album (re-gifted from a package, thanks m&d!)
Musa Njie – attaya cups, saucer, and glasses
Musa Jawo and Abdoulie – Football (soccer ball)
Ousman – athletic shirt and shorts set
Mairama, Bobo, and Sama – matching earrings
James – oops! I’ll get you something next trip jamesy.