While in the village on Sunday to do a census of the local children, my guides and I entered a small Djarma village located down the hill (“mountain” in Fulfulde!) from the chief’s land. I have been in this village a few times, so I am getting to know these villagers – a grouping of about 10 huts.
The men of the village were off in their gardens working, but the women and children gathered around to provide the names and ages of their children. As they speak Djarma in this village, my guides also interpreted for me as I can only converse in a few greetings.
As we were getting ready to leave, one of the men wandered into the village. It didn’t take a translator to interpret that the laughter and gestures of the ladies was to indicate that I should write down this man’s name to the list – for surely this “child” needed to go to school as well. (I’d estimate he is in his forties!) It appears the Djarma like to tease each other as much as the Fulani!
We laughed for a while …. but then the joke turned on me as the man said something while everyone laughed – my guide then translated what the man had said: “I have always wanted a white wife!”
To which I responded: “I don’t know a white lady. As for me – I am a Fulani! But, I will keep my eye out for you, in case I meet a white lady!!”
As my guide interpreted my response back, while laughing himself, the ladies, the man, and then I burst into uproarious laughter!!!
So, there we have it ….. four months in and I have my first official marriage proposal of my second term! Proposed and avoided … but then I realized that my brilliant evasion will only work in a Djarma village and not in a Fulani village. So, I will need to think hard to determine how to joke my way out of a Fulani proposal!
3 comments:
That had me laughing, and reminiscing on the marriage proposals (kind of) that Nick got in Torodi. One day at the market he had a group of 3 girl friends say they'd like to be his 2nd, 3rd, and 4th wives! Ha!
Are marriage proposals normal for you?
I'm trying to figure out how to sign up for you blog to receive updates but I think that as I use a different blogger it won't let me? Do you usually post the links on your Facebook?
Kate
Cheryl - too funny!!
Kate - I try to remember to post my links on facebook. I think you can become a follower - which will then notify you when I post, but I am not sure how this works.
This is fairly common - I have had a few direct proposals, mostly in other countries though (Burkina Faso and Ghana) - this is my second direct proposal in Niger. Usually in the village, they will ask first if they can find me a husband, once the ladies told me they found someone - named him, and told him how many cows and sheep he had!!
When they ask if they can find me a husband, I tell them they would have to ask my father and I am not sure he would agree. If my parents ever visit .... my dad will be bombarded with a lot of marriage requests!!
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