Revisiting Senegal - family members
Staying with Saidou’s family in K.M., Jan and I began to find what it meant to became part of the family. Greeting the head of household, Abduhl, was primary, and at specific times each day I learned. Everyone has a special place in my heart now, especially after they struggled with me as I began to learn the Wolof language. I appreciate their graciousness and patience as I learned some of their greetings in Wolof and everyday customs. Awa was pregnant with this little guy the last time I was here. Of course, custom is that you don’t acknowledge the pregnancy or due date openly in case your conversation might cast a shadow on the baby. Supersition from our perspective, traditional culture from their’s. I’m coming to respect these things in their lives. I had more conversations with Awa than ayone else - she spoke some French where few others of the women did. We made lots of mistakes with each other, learning language and culture. She holds her Muslim beliefs strongly, but honored and cared for me. And… I have her personal cell number, an honor.
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Saidou’s older sister is elegant. This is Fatu with her daughter. I was named after her and kept my new name the entire time I was in Senegal - Fatu. Fatu speaks Puhlar, her mother’s tongue. We simply spoke to each other in different languages and laughed at the results! While French is the official language of her country, as a woman she never had the opportunity to learn French in her limited schooling. But she is a respected business woman in the village, selling kola nuts. The nuts contain caffeine and keep people’s energy up. I tried one - very bitter, yuk.
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Ibrihim is one of Saidou’s younger brothers (there are 9 children). He has a small shop in the village where he sells a few household goods and food items. It’s a place where young men hang out in between jobs. A lot of the local gossip passes through those thin walls I think. I offered to train Ibrihim in HIV/AIDS issues in a French curriculum that I know. He was an enthusiastic student, coming often during the hot mid-day break. He finished just before I left and could recite nearly all of it from memory. As a small reward, I gave him a comic version booklet that discussed HIV/AIDS issues and offered hope in Jesus at the end. That very day, he came home late saying his friends delayed him, asking about the booklet at the shop and began a conversation about the topic. Ibrima was pleased to have information and answers. Among his peers, he had become more expert and now understood the physical, social and moral aspects well. I was pleased for him to have new the status and pass on the HIV/AIDS information.
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As I look at this picture again, I think of Saidou’s older brother and his wife who are really hard workers. They also have lots of kids! I never knew exact which children were theirs, but I think this picture is close. They live in the compound with the extended family and she does most of the shopping and cooking for the entire clan daily. It’s a huge job!
Posted by
at
20:06:38
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