Tuesday morning Jerome stopped by my house earlier than usual with some sad news. A musician in town had died as well as Bubacar. One of the first Christians in these parts and a good friend to Marcel and other church leaders. It was shocking and sad news. Bubacar had been ill with Parkinson's disease for a long time and really for Bubacar this was a time of celebration as he can leave is tired early body and be with Christ.
I have never been to a Christian funeral here and in fact the family of Bubacar had never been to a Christian funeral either so things were different for everyone. I wanted to describe for all of you some of what I observed.
We gathered with the church members at the entrance to Bubacar's village, Dvante for a meeting. Marcel explained all that had happened since Bubacar had passed on and the meeting with Bubacar's family. This is such the sense of community here among the Jola. The information and the proceeding events are for everyone to know.
We then continued to the families house to offer our condolences as a group. As we stood waiting for our gathering of people we saw several other family groups of people coming and going. The family members were sitting under a large tree. The men on one side and the ladies gathered in another group. In front of one family member was a basket of cloth as is the custom to give at a funeral and there were baskets for money. Which is also the custom. I saw many people I knew from Dvante who were there as members of the family or to offer condolences.
When it was our turn two delegates, Pastor Joe, and an elder spoke to the family, very officially offering the condolences of the entire group of Christians present from the church. There was a large group of onlookers and one by one the groups would speak and offer their message to the family and then walk towards Bubacar's house.
Now I didn't know what to expect after the family greeting part at all. We walked in procession towards the family house where there were just lines and lines of ladies around the home. And Bubacar was laid out as is the custom. His mother on one side and his sister on the other. One fanning the bugs from his face. It's terrible sad actually.
We circled around the body and to my utter amazement all of my friends and family there began to cry. Everyone stood silently looking at Bubacar crying. In all of my time here in Oussouye I have NEVER seen my friends cry. Never would I imagine Marcel or Gerard crying. And there was everyone in tears. Later Bernard explained to me that when a young man dies you cry, because it's very sad. Also Bubacar died without an heir. He was never married and he has no children. This is of no consequence to the Christians but to Bubacar's family this was a great tragedy.
Then it was beautiful, the church began to sing. Standing around the body of this man, who fought so long for his faith, fought for his village and the church. Among an enormous group of animists, they worshiped. It was so amazing. So utterly gorgeous. Beautiful beautiful songs of worship in Jola.
The women stayed there at the house and the men returned to Oussouye. Later in the day would be the actual Christian funeral service and the burial of the body.
Bernard told me later there would be no "interrogation" of the corpse which is the custom here. After one dies people come to ask the body questions looking for answers in their life. But as Bubacar's spirit has left and he is no longer lingering to answer questions, the interrogation is over.
Kristina
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