Page 21 - DIVA_No.24_2006

Souvenirs from a Sudanese village

ne day, while with old houses, all built that I would benefit most the sky in a Sudanese
visiting village, and I strongly
a
in the same style with from this experience.
Sudanese family, lovely drawings on the Never before in my recommended it to all of
I expressed the wish to walls. Upon entering the entire life have I seen so who ever get the chance!
do what the local popu- house we were well many stars! It was as if
lation does, that is, to received by the men in the sky was full of them! One thing worth mentio-
sleep outdoors under the the family, all dressed in It might seem strange, ning is Sudanese
night sky. One cannot do the traditional white but later a girl told me hospitality; wherever I
so in the cities unless attire. We were served that she too had this went I met wonderful
one owns a house with a the most exquisite same feeling whenever and kind people who did
courtyard. My friends traditional everything they could to
dinner she returned to her
therefore took me to consisting of several village. please me. I was taken
their village. The different dishes made everywhere-to the local
restaurants,
Sudanese people, living from meat, foul, vegeta- At night everything was market,
and working in the urban bles, soups, etc. silent, just the breeze visiting people's homes
areas or living abroad, blowing quietly, until "What would you
always refer to their Since I was the only about 5 o'clock when the like to see?" "Is there
home village, which female who accompa- minaret started its call anyone you would like
represents an important nied the men, I joined for the first prayer in the to meet?"
factor in their social life. the women of the house morning. One of the men
in their quarters after in the house came to pick "That's Africa," a collea-
Our host drove us to his dinner. One part of the up his eldest son to go to gue told me. Here,
home village, Al- courtyard is reserved for the mosque. I heard them visitors are always well
Sharafa, which is some the women and their whisper quietly before treated-I can confirm it.
190 kilometers south of children; this is where they rushed off in the
Khartoum. We drove for they cook, clean and early morning dawn.
about three hours spend some of their
through many villages time. When bedtime Once the sun came up, I
and even crossed the arrived, I was given a got out of bed feeling
Nile on a ferry boat befo- comfortable bed, which very well rested-there is
re reaching our destina- was placed in the best nothing quite like
tion-a beautiful village part of the courtyard so sleeping outdoors under

22006 Diva 19