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October 2005 MNK Update 07 Dec 2007 |
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October 2005 MNK Update 07 Dec 2007 |
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MNK October Prayer Calendar The past several months have been a very important time in the lives of the MNK’s especially in the lives of young boys. This is the time of the year the men take the boys ages ten to fourteen and circumcise them. They take these boys out into the bush to a camp. During that time the boys are taught the history and customs of the MNK’s. They stay until every boy is healed sometimes taking up to three months and then parade them into the village for a party. This is a very important time for the boys because not only did they learn what it is to be Mandinka, but the group as a whole become life mates. This becomes very important in the years to come as problems arise they will turn to these age mates even more so then there families. As I said the boys would stay out for as long as it took for all to heal. In the past death would sometimes take the lives of these boys. The blame for this was given to evil spirits, or witches taking the boys away. Out of this frame of mind came a creature that was sent to guard the boys in the camp. He “appeared” out of a cloud of dust and is known as the “kankuraŋo”. He wields two machetes and protects the boys from the danger of witches. We all have our tall tales, but this one goes too far because even today in our town of Sedhiou five or six young men are dressed in a costume of tree bark running around town evoking fear in the lives of children and women. The children have fun running away from this thing, but if caught the kankuraŋ will beat them with his machetes. Women run into compounds or houses to avoid a confrontation. We have seen older women snatch up infants, and run into a house because they heard the yell of this thing. It has become a symbol of fear and intimidation towards women and children. As you can tell this is a season controlled by Satan. This practice of circumcision was so important in the lives of MNK’s, but now they take the boys to the hospitals and many villages bring out doctors to do the scission. This is good for the boys and the deaths are reduced, but the teachings are also reduced. What appears to be happening is Satan still has the fear and the belief in righteous acts working and yet the good things like teaching respect for others and the knowledge of their history, he has cast aside to a modern world. Even worse, female circumcision is still practiced in some places in the bush. The second half of this month deals with the MNK’s religion. October 5 they will start their fasting month, called Ramadan. Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. During this month all male and females (this would include children who have been circumcised or of that age) are required to fast from sunup to sundown. This means they are not to swallow even their saliva. Smoking and coarse horsing around is forbidden also. The idea is for a Muslim to have his mind on Allah all day. On the twenty-sixth night, (which means October 31 this year); of fasting they stay up all night awaiting angels to bring them blessing. They will read the Koran until the first prayer time of the morning. At the end of 29 or 30 days they will end their fasting with a prayer day which includes a sacrifice and festival. It is comparable to what our Christmas has become; new clothes for the family, toys, women and children going house to house asking for small money or candy, and a sense of righteousness. The people consume more food during this month than any other time. Early before sunrise the women will get up, cook breakfast, and eat before the fast starts for that day. In the evening the women will cook, not only the dinner, but a snack, which usually consists of bread, sugar (lots), tea, and some kind of meat broth, to tie them over until dinner, . They eat the snack to break fast, and then go to evening prayers. Dinner will not be ready until late, nine or ten at night. You must not forget the women are still to wash clothes and go to the rice fields during this time. Men too, still tend to their fields which means they are working in the hot sun with no chance to drink. The physical hardship is payment for sin. Thank you and May God bless you.
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