Biki

So on June 9 we celebrated a Biki which is a local baby naming ceremony.  The lady who had the baby delivers food to the compound and her husband works in the hospital.  The Biki started at 7:00 a.m. but when we get there, on time, the place is already filled with people.  The place is the home of the newborns parents.  Outside all the men are seated either in chairs or on the ground on mats.  The women go inside.  The preacher is already giving his sermon which he completes in about 20 minutes.  After that the baby is brought out, prayed over, and his name was announced – Elisha.  Then comes the food, brought out on large trays that look like garbage can lids.  They bring out pails of water so we can wash our hands and then we eat the food with our hands – the right hand only.  The meal is mostly rice, and Toro which is a corn pounded into flour and cooked to the consistence of very stiff cream of wheat and sauce, thickened with okra to make it stringy and sticky – quite hot.  The platters are placed on the ground and people gather around and dig in and eat together.  Then we simply wash our hands afterward.  As the meal was going on a ram was brought through the area and slaughtered right next to where the men were eating – ah Africa.

The Friday before the Biki Grace had the opportunity to go to a home in the village and help prepare food for the Biki. 

The first picture is Grace with the baby.