Around The World With Sara

SECOND KONO VILLAGE

October 25, 2012

First thing this morning we are meeting with the gender coordinator for an organization called PPRC to introduce Lillian and Michaela and to encourage the inclusion of Fambul Tok members in their meetings for the area.  It is decided that it will be extremely beneficial for the two organizations to work together about gender issues not only during the elections but also in the future. 

Later the Safety Commissioner from the ONS and members of the district organization called DCMC also meets with Lillian and Michaela.  Kathy, as a representative of the US Embassy, is the facilitator of both of these meetings.  All the organizations agree that it has value to add the Peace Mothers of Fambul Tok in their regular meetings.

The HQ Village

This afternoon we are on our way over some more of the muddy, rutty, bouncy roads we have been traveling these past days.  This meeting is taking place in the headquarters village of the Chief of this Chiefdom.

Again we are met with song and dance and once again I am excited to jump right in.  I don’t even need an invitation! I am led by an older man to the grove with the peace tree. He directs Kathy and I to the seating area.  This time the seats are created with 2X4 boards suspended between the trees.  I am very confident these will not break!  Kathy and I find out the man is the Chief and he is honoring us by seating us with him.

Weaving Fishing Net & Resting
Mat

A woman weaving a beautiful circular fishing net as she dances along presents me with the creation as I am seated. She and the Chief try to show me how to weave it as the villagers gather around. It looks so simple, but she has to rip out what I attempt to do. I laugh and all around me laugh with me.

A man is seated on the ground weaving a mat.  The Chief tells me the man is 61 years old and has been doing this for over 40 years.  He sells the mats that are used for sitting and bedding for 15,000 leones (about $3.75) to the villagers.  The grove where we are seated is his. 

This meeting has the same purpose as yesterday and starts again with the Christian and Muslim prayers.  There are subtle differences today.  Yesterdays village seemed more open and relaxed and the men more accepting of the Peace Mothers and their participation as leaders towards a peaceful election.

Yesterdays village has members of secret societies.  The women who belong to these societies are called Sowies.  The secret societies are the Animists who still uphold the traditional religion of worshiping the spirits in all things including rocks, trees, animals,etc.  There are no Animists in today’s village.

Lillian gives the same basic message as yesterday but changes it by having a skit instead of elaborating on using women’s talents to persuade the men.  The skit is about a man and his wife walking along as they begin to argue about voting.  She wants one party to win and he another.  He is about to hit her with a stick when another man intervenes.  He convinces the man that he needs to accept the fact the woman has a right to choose.  In the end they hug and make up.

Michaela asks 6 men to come forward.  She mixes age and religion in her choice.  The men hold the posters as Lillian and Michaela explain the messages and solicit agreement from the men and women.  She does this, she tells me later, to engage the men in the presentation.

It appears the men from this Chiefdom are slower to accept the change in the women and the empowerment they are showing due to the Fambul Tok process.  This village is more reserved even though they dance and sing, the same level of spontaneity is missing.

As I am dancing a woman dances up to me and yanks the scarf off of her head showing me a head full of white/grey braids.  She has dimples in her cheeks and her eyes twinkle.  We dance together as the wise old crones of the village.  She is showing me I am her equal in age and wisdom.  I am blessed and honored and touched by the purity of emotion given so freely.

I learn that the Mammy Queen has died and the woman who dances with me is in preparation to take that role in the chiefdom.

Kathy and I speak to the women.  I find it more difficult to be spontaneous with these villagers.  They are very welcoming, but the same level of joy is not present.

Large bowls of rice covered by a brown substance are the offering of food for us to taste.  The brown substance is ground, spiced and cooked casva leaves.  Kathy and I taste as does Michaela to show respect.  It is delicious.  I take a second helping.

Chief (print shirt)Saying Good-bye

We leave for the car with the Chief and a few others escorting us.  The enthusiastic farewell from yesterday accompanied by singing and dancing is not present today.  