Muslim holiday in MALI

Tabaski Festival in Bamako, Mali

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photo story by Pierre-Yves Brunaud

Please look at this link for a beautiful depiction of the 3 day religious holiday of "Eid al-Adha," "solemn sheep holiday,' here and how the Malians prepare and celebrate it in their homes.

click here: Tabaski Fesitval in MALI

Jenn & I, being newly arrived in Bamako, aren't doing much today. If we were still in Kayes we'd have numerous invitations to come eat some big meals, and we often do three invitations, yes, three meals, in one afternoon!  The Diarras, Cisses, Diops, Sys, more Diarras, Coulibalys, Aans, and others insist we come by.  If we don't, they send some meat by anyway!   Probably by next the holiday in July we'll know many folk here, too, and some good meals.

taken in 1989 - Kayes near the railroad station showing maybe 5,000 in morning festival prayers 

We often even have some time while drinking tea in the homes to show a Bible story cloth, read a kid's story in their language, play a Bible story or portion, and talk of the meaning of the day. The Muslims see it as simply a remembrance of what father Abraham did in sparing the son and being faithful to God.  As Ishmael, 1st born son of model Abraham, is the father of the Arabs, they see this as a founding moment in their all important 'house of Islam,' "Dar Islam." They do not see the sacrifice as a shadow of the cross shining in the light of Jesus the only sacrifice for all men.  We pray they will have their minds and hearts opened.  Many who are in Mecca on the Pilgrimage at this time have dreams or visions from the almighty God above which gets them directed toward seeking Him more. Pray for this.  

Wikipedia's article on the festival is useful for a westerner & fairly complete:   wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_al-Adha festival Tabaski

It also shows the moveable dates to come for several years.

You who live in non-Muslim lands, i.e. America, Germany, or Israel, etc, should seek to visit your Muslim neighbors in their homes during this long holiday.  Invite them to your home, too.  Get to know them as friends.  Break down the walls of animosity by knowing them as people like you.  May our love shine the light of the cross.

Questions to ask regularly of disciples:  such as my friends like Benj & Mamadou & Ousman & Oumar, & Adama, & Modibo, & Samba, & Houseni, etc.

Adama & Samba in Dakar

-What r u reading in Bible?
-Prayer needs?
-How is the relation w/ wife n kids?
-Ministry activities?
-What books r u reading?
-Do u feel close to God?
-Do u feel on fire for God?
-Are u fruitful?
-Is your love for God growing?
-How are u doing in holiness?
-What are your spiritual gifts?
-Are you filled w/ HS currently?
-How r u helping the poor or oppressed?
-Are you being persecuted?
-Can you praise God in spite of health problems?

-What is God teaching you?

a church delegation visits the imams of Kayes Ndi

Yesterday, Nov 19^th, was the 2nd day of the Muslim feast memorializing Abraham's sacrifice known as Tabaski here in West Africa.  So in an effort of fraternity and witness several of us went to a number of different mosques to visit the imams in their homes.  We focused on the Kayes Ndi (small Kayes) side of the river where there is one Bambara speaking church and where I focus my visits to the Fulanis.

As a delegation of two pastors, Pierre and Joshua, and two missionaries, Siegfried and myself, and two other church members, Abel and Benjamin, we visited about ten imams and two town officials: the mayor and the village chief.  (I think this was Siegfried's third time to do such greetings, I went with him once before.)  I knew over half of them; in fact the chief is in a "grin" group where I often drink tea!  We had a great time and were warmly rec'd in every case as we made these short visits of ten to fifteen minutes. We were even giving them a large card with Arabic writing in the round like Muslims do but this time with Bible verses such as the Lord's Prayer or the Beatitudes.  I gave a small tract in Pulaar to the Fulanis, too.   

I heard today that one of the church members really liked this and thot that we should also visit all the mosques in Kayes, too!  I was also able to sort out better who was who and to make a few connections.  It was interesting that our guide, Mr. Ndiaye, was one with whom I had eaten part of the feast the day before via Mr. Diop, too, so I've made a better friend with him, too.  Another was a relative of one family I know very well, so that connection was improved, too.  Because of my work with the Mauritanian refugees several years back and the help of one Kayes Fulani, Mr. Abba Sy, I took his family name, so I'm known by many jokingly as Abba's son, his oldest son even, since Babba is a year younger.  Abba passed away a couple years ago never confessing Jesus, and I don't think he really understood the gospel much in spite of clear witness several times.  As yet we have just one Fulani believer in Kayes, and he's not from here.  Another man form Kayes was saved elsewhere a long time ago, and he's currently in seminary in Cameroon!  Two or three others are very open and close, but stepping over the fence requires a real effort here. 

I have a dream to do more research in Kayes as to what varieties of SLM we have here.  They have many denominations, too, and most of the Christians and missionaries are ignorant of these distinctions among them.  Some have told me that every mosque of Kayes is a different denomination (brotherhood)!  Most West Africans are Sufis of the Moroccan founded Tijaniyya order (and there are now many versions of this), but some are Wahabiyya, some are Quadiriyya, etc.  Such visits as we did yesterday help me in pursuing this dream.

Those met yesterday:

M. War, a Fulani near Thiam’s home, not present, only older lady who blessed us forever!
M. ___, a Fulani behind Peter’s house and friend of Abel, cheap mud house, not present
M. Sow, a young Fulani in new mosque near Nema’s RA housing; M. Dicko was there, too.
M. Souleyman BA, jom woro and member of tea ‘grin’(Oumar Diallo’en outside)
M. Ly, near Ba family but head of grand mosque of Baka Foro (pix)
M. Adama(?) Mariko, Kayes Ndi Mayor (pix), small yard and house, next to Samba Docter (sic) place.
M. Ibrahima Nimaga, past the church in Karankaran, Kadija Diop husband, and Modibo Diop was there, and a griot, too! (pix)     Nimaga is ‘politician’ of Kayes, his bro. a deputé, he selected the mayor, etc., Family from Nioro, a cattle dealer.
M. Sacko, a Soninke, mosque in Karankaran, older house on one side two stories, newer side large and roomy!
M. Sy, older Fulani who knew me as ‘bi Abba’ (!) lives near big mosque but imam of Ba’en mosque!
M. Mogobé Traoré, a Bambara, near market (son a rapper in France!)
M. Ibrahim Ndiaye, a Fulani tailor, was our guide; he lives near Woppa Diop’en;  Joba, an old lady there is also my friend.

odd notes: 
-all named Chiekna are also called Yuba after Alamamy Cheik Hamala of Nioro.
-all named Ibrahima are also called Baya!
-all named Moussa are also called Bala,
-all named Oumar can be called Baril, at least by Fulanis, etc.

-An Oumou as daughter, the brother who follows is always Modibo (works in the Modibo Diop and Vieux Mohammad’s cases!)