A volunteer, Richard, located up in St. Louis coordinated a two day soccer tournament for talibe that he works with at his garden. Talibe are children who are sent to learn the Koran and work for a marabout in exchange for lodging. They are commonly found on the streets begging for money that they are required to give to the marabout everyday. It's a system where it is easy to have strong opinions and feelings about since the high variation in conditions-- some marabouts treat children well however, that is not always the case (in terms of the level of expected work in exchange for learning and food, quantity and quality varying). Additionally, often children are sent to be taken care of by marabouts because their family cannot care for them.
The first day, Caitlin (who was filming the event) and I arrived to watch the qualifying rounds being played on a sand soccer field (there were games all morning and afternoon). It is such a different experience that what I am use to in village it was great to see; there was just so much more happening! There was a DJ playing music over loud speakers, children watching all around, people coming & going to see the games. It was also great because the majority of talibe are Pular and I was able to actually converse with them (since we share a similar language). Afterwards, all the volunteers who came into town went out to dinner where I had my first warthog plate!
I was impressed by the first day, but was shocked to arrive the second day to a proper stadium with turf field, and stands on either side. There was a miscommunication about the time we were able to use the field so the event was pushed back a couple hours. Two games were scheduled, a volunteer game and then the final talibe game, with an intermission of performances by a judo club, a dance group, a Michael Jackson impersonator, and "lions," a group of Senegalese performers that are kind of like clowns, but culturally are used to scare children (bizarre, I know). It came together so well! By the final game, the stands were packed with fans and ended in a shoot out with fans rushing to the field at the end.
Ohh I almost forgot to mention, these boys didn't even all have shoes to play in! (The jellies are really common footwear).
Unfortunately, the volunteers lost their game (I didn't participate in the volunteer game due to a cold I acquired in Dakar...going from above 100 everyday to 70s is hard on one's body!). St. Louis was gorgeous and I can't wait to go back, although I don't think that will be until next year's jazz festival in May!
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