Rest in Peace

     A few nights ago, my Mother's Adeero (paternal Uncle) passed away. Although I've been to a few geeri (funerals) in Ottawa, I was unprepared and thoroughly surprised at the events that took place the day after his death. Once news spread, several men came to the house to sleepover and protect the mayd (deceased body). Several women also slept over the same night. In the morning, the body was taken away from the house and burried, a ceremony only men are allowed to attend. The women stayed at the house and prepared an elaborate traditional Somali meal.

     First, goats were slaughtered in an Islamic procedure (you must say bismillah before slaughtering the animal and draining its blood). Second, the women go to the market to purchase the ingredients, in huge quantities, for the meal. While the meal was being prepared, I sat on a mat with elder women and listened to their stories while drinking tea.

     After the men returned from Duhur prayer at the local mosque, the food was served. After everyone was done eating, the women began the task of cleaning up the house, the dishes, and the front yard. In the afternoon, everyone ate popcorn and traditional Somali sweets.

The elder women skinning the goat.

Water is a precious resource in Hargeisa. For many houses, the water company turns on the taps every few nights, in the middle of the night, for a few hours. The families then use these huge containers, as well as smaller containers used for gas, to store the water.

Women use immense pails, pots and spoons to prepare the feast. 

The dishwashing corner (I kept my distance).

These are the intestines and other removed insides of the slaughtered goats.

Here are the men exiting the room where my Mom's Uncle passed away. They are leaving to attend the noon prayer.

These women are making special ingredients used for tea.

The tea corner.

The women prayed inside the home and in the front yard. 

The men coming back from prayer.

The men are fed first. 

The children are fed second. 

The women are fed last.