Fantasia!

So this weekend I saw Fantasia - and no I'm not talking about the Disney movie although that would have been nice.

So this whole weekend was one big fete (party)- fete de Ramadan to be exact- to signal the end of fasting. Thing semi-started Wednesday night - that was when people waited to see if the moon was visible which if so would signal the end of fasting and the beginning of the fete! But alas, Wednesday night there was no moon to be seen so Thursday was like any other day (aka I had to go to school to teach). But since the fete did not begin Thursday, that meant it would begin Friday!

Friday's events included a prayer which I attempted to attend however no Cameroonian informed me or the other volunteer that the prayer does not actually happen at the mosque but rather much farther out of town near the lycee. So we sat and waited for over an hour at the mosque but although we missed the prayer we did see the Lamido ride into the chefferie. I felt like I was in Aladdin when he parades into the palace. The Lamido came around the corner surrounded by people. Hewas on a horse of course and someone following him carrying a large umbrella (like one you might have on your patio furniture). There were horns blarring and people drumming- rather intimidating.

Anyway- so later that evening, there was 'feting' to be done (franglais for 'partying'). People make lots of food and invite friends over, dress up, dance, etc. I went to my neighbor's house for a bit- had some cake, plantains, chicken, croquettes- all delish. Then later in the evening I went with the my postmate (a healthvolunteer) and her health club that she runs to see them in action (selling condoms at the discotheque). So Friday was jam packed and I was exhausted at night butttt things got even better Saturday....there was FANTASIA!!

Ok before I get to that Fantasia, so Saturday was more feting - more food, more dressing up, more invites to people's houses. So before Fantasia, I went to another neighbor's house for more delish food. This was around 3:30pm and already the anticipation for Fantasia was building up and by the time we walked to the chefferie, there was a huge crowd of people everywhere and it was rather difficult to even find a spot to see...but of course we made our way through.

And now Fantasia! (fawn-ta-zia in french). The simplest way to describe it is like a mini-horse race. Everyone comes out - all the people in town, the big-wigs (like the prefet, sous-prefet, ministers, etc- oh and of course the Lamido). And then different people (I assume part of the chefferie) race horses down the street. And the Lamido waits at the end and all the people kind of salute him as they approach by raising their fists or swords. And the whole time, there are people blowing horns and these women kind of yelling ay,ay,ay every now and then. The actual Fantasia lasts about 30 minutes. But man people hung around the chefferie for hours after- people were still out dancing and just hanging out when I came home Saturday night.

Then Sunday the weekend feting was winding down. There was another Fantasia but not quite as big (the important people didn't come out for this one). But pretty much all day long horns and drums could be heard (at least at my house since I live behind the chefferie). And now all of it is over and we all have returned to regular activities like school. But no worries - there will be another fete in November with more festivities!

Barka de sallah! Bonne fete!

One of horses during Fantasia (although no one rode on this one...)

A little little bit of the crowd....soooo many people and very colorful (although you can't tell in this picture...)

FANTASIA horses!

One of the horn blowers