THE GAMOU The Gamou celebrating the birthday of the prophet was this past week. In Kaolack it was especially big because of the dedication of a large mosque, founded by a very respected holy man and teacher, (a marabout). Most mosques are built in a few months. This one took 70 years for some reason. It is a teaching center with many followers from the U.S., especially Atlanta and Detroit. Visitors from Mali, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, The Gambia, and elsewhere were around. Since many pilgrims come by foot, camel, bus, car, or otherwise, they stayed several days, parked wherever. In the afternoons, at the "pause" after the main meal, cots were set alongside vehicles for a rest. To visit the mosque I wore a skirt, but was told it was better to change to African
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