Easter in Casamance

It is Easter Saturday. “Today and tomorrow, you will benefit from many parties in the villages” says our host Osman. Muslims benefits from their Christian neighbors’ festivals and vice versa (the Muslim festivity of Korité is in two weeks).

Preparations can be seen everywhere. In the sept-place (the customary seven-seater shared taxi) we travel with life chicken. The taxis and the boats are full. Everyone is going back to their villages to celebrate with families.

The dynamics between the religious minorities in Casamance is confusing to a European. Muslims and Christians conspicuously demonstrate their beliefs. In France, this could be considered provocative, if not illegal. In Senegal, that’s the style!

On midnight, I visit the church service. The liturgy of light starts with great bonfire in front of the church. Then we walk into the church with candles. There is plenty of music at the church service. I wonder why two adult girls wear snow-white dresses that resemble wedding gowns. Later in the service, the mystery reveals: they get baptized.

The next evening, there are many parties in town. Families and friends celebrate with local music and dance. Many parties happen right on the street. In the crowd, I shake hands with boys whom I had met at the Baye Fall (Muslim) evening a few days earlier. Together, we celebrate Easter. We celebrate friendship and life.