A marabout is the equivalent to a priest or a bishop in Catholicism. On Wednesday, when I found out the local marabout for their sect of Islam was coming, I knew it would be a big deal.
He was supposed to arrive around lunch time, eat in our village, and then proceed onto Goudoude Ndouebe, the village 2 km away. However, he was on Senegal-time which means that he showed up when he decided he was ready regardless of prior guarantees. When his entourage pulled up at dusk, honking their horns, with young boys hanging outside the back of trucks, I watched in amazement as the children of the village went wild with excitement. It was a little scary because the men brought out their rifles and fired them intermittently to mark the marabout’s arrival.
It was very important to the kids in my village to meet this marabout, so, I had to veil and wear conservative clothing. I went over to my friend’s house and waited with all the other women and children for his arrival. Then the women my age started questioning my personal religion.
It seems like they don’t want to understand that I am Christian, that I still pray, and that just because I don’t pray like them I’m not a bad person. It was a very frustrating experience. It was explained to me that if I saw the marabout, I would be obligated to pray because he would give something like a benediction.
So, I ended up going home without seeing the marabout, which I was o.k. with. The women could only go to see him after all the men have received their blessing, so it was already dark by the time I could have seen him. I understand the importance of religion in my village and I think I am very respectful of it. Why then, is it impossible for them to respect my beliefs? I don’t buy the line “They are ignorant and not exposed to other religions.” I have been living in this community for the last 8 months and I have had numerous discussions with everyone in my village and host family about Christianity.
If anyone has suggestions, please write me an email.
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1 comments:
I think a Canadian in Senegal would have similar problems going to see the maraboot.
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