PEACE MOTHERS JOURNEY DAY THREE VILLAGE TWO

December 19, 2012

This afternoon we begin visiting villages in the Bombali District. I have not visited in Bombali, but I do know the Fambul Tok District staff from their involvement in helping the staffs from Kono and Kailahun Districts with the peaceful election sensitization of all the Chiefdoms in those areas.

They meet us and lead us into the first village. As we enter the village it appears there may be a Secret Society ceremony going on - again! We are assured there is not and the people we see dressed up are going to perform a drama for us. This village knows we are going to visit.

Recording Radio Program

When we arrive the Peace Mother Chair is conducting the once a month Peace Mothers radio broadcast.  Fambul Tok funds two monthly broadcasts, one by the Peace Mothers and one by the communities. There is no electricity and no TV in any of the villages, but they do have battery operated radios and listen to the radio everyday for news. This is a great way to get the Fambul Tok message to areas where intervention has not yet taken place as well as to reinforce the process where it has.

This radio broadcast has been instrumental in bringing Ex-Combatants (Rebels) back to their villages to participate in the reconciliation and peace process. These reformed men who call themselves Peace Parents are some of the biggest Fambul Tok supporters in their respective villages.

The drama begins. It depicts the rebels entering the village with child soldiers and capturing men and women who are trying to run into the bush. One woman has a baby tied to her back and when the “rebel” tries to capture her the baby starts to cry and reach out for another man who is trying to help the mother. They have to stop the scene because the baby is too distraught. She thinks it is real!

Ancestor Ceremony

The next scene shows the rebels coming back to the village and performing the ancestor ceremony that follows the Fambul Tok reconciliation and power of forgiveness bonfire.  The play is well thought out and performed.

The Devil

Then I feel Micheala grab my leg in fear. I look over and here comes a fetish dressed as a devil. More secret society stuff. Soon it is plain it is not the REAL devil but a representation of the real thing. She tells me that the real devil can cast spells, cause pregnant women to miscarry and other sordid “stuff”.

I quite enjoy the dance of the devil who, at one point, dances over to me laying his long knife on the ground and bowing down for me to touch him on his shoulder. It was also a wish of mine to witness secret society dances and or ceremonies and I certainly have had that wish granted in spades!

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma/Sara