Friday 10th August
Two children turned up for school today,
but the community had declared both today and tomorrow days of mourning for the
funerals, and everything was to stay closed, so the children were sent home.
Outside every home there are tents and on
front porches bedding, where all the ‘extras’ from out of town will sleep while
the funerals for the two little babies are taking place.
We did not feel it was appropriate that we
attend the funeral today, but it was held just across from our house in an open
covered area. The families looked different as they all dressed in black and
white, a tradition dating back to when ‘white man’ customs were
introduced. The mournful sound of the
women wailing filled the air. This sorrowful cry would sadden even the hardest
of hearts.
In the afternoon as the children came to us
in the street, they called, “look at my funeral clothes Mister David and Miss
Chris.” And then from the mouths of babes, “they made a big noise for the baby,
it died.” The white clothes, now
covered in red dirt will be washed and ready for tomorrow. Another funeral,
another baby gone, ‘sorry business’ is a good name for it…..it is indeed.
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