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Tobaski Feast Day (Eid Al Adha): A cultural sharing
One of my Peace Corps friends emailed me a couple days ago. He reminded me that today is Tobaski. That's what this Muslim holiday is called in The Gambia. Perhaps you've heard it called Eid Al Adha--or just Eid. This is the day when Muslims celebrate when God told Abraham not to sacrifice Ismail (Issac)but a sheep instead.
Today every married male is supposed to kill a sheep if he can afford one, if not , than a goat, and if not that --a chicken. The food is cooked to be shared. A portion is to be given to poor people, meaning those without. A portion is shared with friends and family who stop by for a visit and a portion is kept for the family who bought the sheep. Most is given away. When the sheep is killed there is a blessing said to Allah (God).
The build up to this day is enormous. People get new outfits made, clean house, buy a sheep--if they can afford one, and gather coins to give out to children. One reason why the holiday feels so joyous is because the harvest is done, people have money, the mosquitos have largely disappeared and it's not so hot during the day. It's hot. Just not so hot.
During my first Tobaski in The Gambia, I must have traveled somewhere because I don't have any recollection of what I did-- By my second Tobaski, I stayed in my village to join in with my best friend, Fatou's family celebration. I had a Grand Buba made (a traditional women's outfit that used so much fabric I had a pair of pants and a shirt made out of it later) and gathered coins. I let my friend talk me into visiting various families and accepting money. Since I was a single woman, I was still eligible to receive money.
Okay, you can bet I balked at this one. The idea of taking money from the people whose lives I was there to help seemed not right. But my friend talked me into it saying that people would feel good if I participated. They'd be thrilled. They were thrilled and I had a blast. On this particular day I felt like I belonged--and the sheep tasted great.
About the money, I think in the end it amounted to about $1.20. I tried to give it to my friend, but she wouldn't take it, so later on I bought something for us to share. The photo is of women in their finest. This isn't my village, but it sure looks like it could be. Those trees in the background look like they are mango trees. This is not the time of year when they are ripe, though.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Festivals and Events, Food and Drink, Gambia
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Eva Dec 19th 2007 10:42PM
Thanks for this post, Jamie. I had the chance to attend a Hari Raya celebration in Malaysia once (what Eid is called there) and it was great - although I have to admit seeing a lamb on a spit over an open fire startled me a little at first.
Da-Tary Egbuke Dec 21st 2007 1:22AM
Great Jamie! today and morrow is Tobaski Day here in the Gambia. This is about my 12th Tabaski Day here in The Gambia. I'm a teacher of little kids of 2 to 6years old in my own little Nursery and Day Care Center called "Tomorrow's People International Nursery & Daycare Center" here in the Gambia. I am presently having a real sweet feeling of the day here today. Nearly all my kids parents sent me packages of raw mutton sealed in nylon bags and my fridge is stuffed with mutton here today. I've been cooking, grilling and eating mutton all day here and am so filled up with mutton. It's really great to be a bachelor in the gambia on tobaski Day! Lots of kids in their best dresses also trooped into my home for salibo - token gifts of any amount of money that is affordable. Consequently, i also made lots of coins available as gifts to the kids as they come to say hello to their teacher. I really love the day for people who had had some differences prior to the day shook hands and begged for each other's forgiveness and started all over as friends again! I also seized the opportunity to visit some families i've not been able to visit all the while due to my ever busy and tight schedule......................Tobaski is a remarkable day indeed!