We had quite the discussion with Nazo this morning. When we were at the cultural center in Tamale we bought a hat that is traditionally worn by the chiefs. I think it would be taboo for Steve to put it on and wear it. It has lots of leather amulets hanging from it and it has small strips of leather dangling inside the hat. The idea is that the hat can protect the wearer from all sorts of things, even death, if he takes the hat to the Juju (witchdoctor) and does the necessary rituals to get the protection. Naturally all of this comes at a high monetary price. He said that once the hat has been treated if anyone other than the chief puts it on he will die. Nazo is not allowed to practice Juju because he is a Muslim but that does not keep him from believing in it. From the hat he launched off into the danger of “witches”. Yes, they believe that people can be witches. The witches are evil and devoir humans; hence the reason people get sick and die. All of this happens in the world of the spirits. All these traditions are very interesting and I try to write them down as they are explained.
Later this afternoon Steve and Nazo were in the back field and Steve commented on how awful Nazo’s corn looked. Every year we tell them not to plant corn because the land is too poor to grow corn but every year they still plant corn. Nazo said that the reason the corn was not producing this year is because of the security light that is behind the Child Center. He said that it is keeping the corn from getting its proper “rest” because it is on all night. That is an excuse we have not heard before.
Today is Mr. Iddrisu’s day off from work but he stopped by to tell us what the hospital told him yesterday about his upcoming surgery. He knew very little because he did not ask any questions. All he knew was that they could not find his file and he was going to have to get a new one. He seems to be excited about getting his cataract removed.
It has been overcast all day and the rain clouds are building. The weather is cooler but I cannot tell you what the temperature is because our little weather station fell / blew down while we were gone and it is not working. I am not sure if it will ever work again. We will have to look for a thermometer of some sort next time we are in Tamale.
Thank you for all you do for us and for the work.
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
