A blessing from the Sheikh

After our departure from Sarafone, we headed east to the town of Kiota, home to West Africa's most popular Sheikh. People from all over the continent travel to this village to celebrate the birthday of Mohammed in the Sheikh's presence. Equally as popular is "Maman", the wife of the Sheikh's now deceased father and a woman of great generosity to young and orphaned girls. Nigerien's and other devout Muslims are constantly making pilgrammages here to ask the Sheikh and Maman to pray for them. Many often wait many days or weeks to see the Sheikh, so it was quite an honor for our entourage to be invited into their separate palaces, served a delicious meal and given the opportunity to shake their hands, ask questions and have a prayer said for us. I continue to be so amazed at the welcomes and access our mere presence as Peace Corps volutneers has solicited.
Our celebration of Islam continued at the next village where we would be sleeping for the night. This village was almost exclusively women as many of the young men were on exode. Here we were able to relax and chat a bit before the evening prayer ended and the ziphyr chanting started. On our briefing we were told that because it was Friday, the Islamic Holy Day, the chanting would be subdued. However, what was to come ended up being the most fun night I've had in Niger!
In a circle of about 60 people, mostly women and girls, we joined in on call and response songs, took turns dancing into the center of the circle, and clapped our hands together and against our bodies to create rhythm. All of the songs seemed to praise Allah and the energy grew and grew as the dancing went on. I had the best time learning from the young teenage girls and letting the village women pull me into the dancing over and over again. Kentucky Kate, my friend and fellow volunteer hailed the circle as "some serious down home worshipin'!"