Tabaski is the festival in Niger where Muslims celebrate how Abraham didn't have to kill his son Ishmael because God sent a ram in replacement. About two weeks before this holiday the streets of Niamey are filled with rams. Rams strapped to the roofs of bush taxis, riding on motorcycles (especially hilarious when your sitting at a stop sign next to one and it takes a dump on the guy holding it), and wandering along the side of the road. This festival is a pretty big deal. Almost as big as Christmas in the US.
Early in the morning this past Sunday, the city was calm. Then it began. The rams were slaughtered and set up to roast all day. They are roasted outside of the gate along the side of the street. In my opinion, this is just getting more dust on the meat and making it a bit more grainy, but I'm not roasting. The air of Niamey grows thick with smoke as everyone has a large fire for the roasting. My friend Lisa took some great pictures when she went out. Hope you enjoy them!
It's a bit of a prestige thing to have a large number of rams roasting outside your house. I equate it to the obnoxious house on the block that loves Christmas WAY TOO MUCH and wants everyone to know that.
Yup. Those are testicles hanging there, just...hanging there...
Early in the morning this past Sunday, the city was calm. Then it began. The rams were slaughtered and set up to roast all day. They are roasted outside of the gate along the side of the street. In my opinion, this is just getting more dust on the meat and making it a bit more grainy, but I'm not roasting. The air of Niamey grows thick with smoke as everyone has a large fire for the roasting. My friend Lisa took some great pictures when she went out. Hope you enjoy them!
