On a rather belated note, my neighbor got "married" at the beginning of February to her American boyfriend who was visiting on vacation. Since it wasn't a real wedding they skipped right past all of the religious ceremonies and just stuck with the best part...the reception. About 30 volunteers from all over the country converged on her town in our Senegalese finest with gifts of live poultry, boiled eggs and nesting bowls full of MSG powder. Everything required to make a good party truly great, including $2 wine sipped surreptitiously out of empty Coke cans (inspired by our favorite show, Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia). Kourtney, Ari and I served as the bridesmaids, our only job being to look fabulous in our chiquita banana themed completes. A $100 sheep was slaughtered and amazing ceeb u jen (rice and fish) was served for lunch along with hard boiled eggs and tomatoes stuffed with mayonnaise. The event was an amazing mash-up of Senegalese and American traditions...Senegalese ataya (tea) + American alcohol,
Senegalese drumming + American gangster rap, and Senegalese dancing + a
surprise rendition of Hava Nagila (Jessica's half Jewish) that terrified
Jessica and confused the heck out of the Senegalese guests (see video). It was certainly the best non-wedding I've ever been a part of.
Chiquita Banana Bridesmaids (note the wine in a can)
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