Operation Tabaski! Over the past month or so Dakar has been absolutely overrun by moutons (sheep) in what is unofficially known as Operation Tabaski. In preparation for the religious holiday, which took place on Saturday, people set up small enterprises to sell sheep to Dakar residents at prices ranging from $60 to $2,000, depending on the breed of course. This veritable mouton industry is in interesting and significant part of the country's informal economy, complete with its own terminology (the most expensive breed of sheep is referred to as the "limousine") and social hierarchy. Out of curiosity and in support of neighborhood friends and entrepreneurs, Papis, Malang and Mustafa, I decided to document their Operation Tabaski mouton-selling activities for what will hopefully become a tool for them to attract future investments via micro-finance. I will post the video, filmed by myself and Papis, as soon as possible.


Now that the holiday has passed, the city has been reclaimed by humans and I can open my windows without encountering the drift of offensive mouton odor. I spent Tabaski at maambooy's house as usual and ate enough mouton over the weekend to last me until next year. Today at work I exchange belated Tabaski greetings with colleagues and students, some of whom are vegetarian and still shared in the festivities, others who are traumatized and intend to become vegetarian the moment they return home.


Here are some photos of Tabaski-wear:

Below are my two roomies, Sonya, a Barnard Senior currently in Dakar, and Mariam Diop, talented fashion designer.
And the winnder for most creative Tabaski outfit design goes to....Yacine Ba for her black bassin onesy with hot pink beaded belt creation. Fabulous.

Winner for most elegant 'Traditional' Tabaski outfit goes to Aminata Ndao for her white and gold boubou.