BURIAL GROUNDS

Djibouti Muslim burial sites are simple mounds of dirt, surrounded by stones. Whenever a person dies, they must be buried within 24 hours, according to tradition. There is no embalming and no cremation. Then three days afterwards, there is a coming together of family and friends to morn the deceased. There are exceptions to the three day after gathering, if the family needs to travel from out of the country or needs time to assemble.

The cost of burial and the feast that comes with the gathering after the burial must be paid for by the family of the person who died. For poorer Djiboutians, a gift of money to help with the burial and gathering afterward would usually be accepted and appreciated. However, that would never be offered to a family with means. Many after death gatherings happen under large tents erected in the streets or near the home of the family. Depending upon how important the deceased was, these gatherings can last for several days. Friends and family come during the day and evening, pray, read from the Koran, eat and visit.

The notion of human death here is hard for a westerner to fathom. The mourning period here is short if non-existent. It is considered "God's will". And, life continues as if nothing happened. It doesn't seem to matter if the death was expected or sudden. While a person is living, there is much family caring and sympathy for the ill one, especially a parent. But, once death comes, there is a stoic acceptance of the inevitable, as if humans have no power over this or any other aspect of one's life.

Traditionally in Djibouti, there is no such thing as brining food to the family of the deceased or "pot luck". When one is invited to a Djiboutian's home for dinner or a wedding ceremony or an after-burial gathering, it is considered impolite to bring food or host gifts, etc. It is considered an afront to even suggest that you might want to do such a thing. If you are invited to a Djiboutian's home, no matter how modest or grand, the guest always arrives empty handed. The host provides all food and drink. It is the tradition.

KHAMSIN

Khamsin means 50 days in Arabic. Beginning the last ten days of June, all of July and the first 10 days of August the winds blow harsh, hot and from the land in Djibouti. The air is filled with red dust, sometimes so thick you cannot see the hood of your car driving down the road. Everything in our homes is covered with a thick layer of red dust. It blows in through the windows and under the doors. You can dust and scrub the floors every day and still never get rid of the grit. It is nasty and much like the Santa Anna winds in California, lasting longer and blowing harder.

Morning sunrises become cloudy, turning the rising sun a red-orange seen through a haze of red dust. There are many respiratory problems here. Lots of families suffer from asthma and many eye problems. Living and working outdoors during khamsin is difficult. When walking out in the open during khamsin, women use their headscarves to shield their faces from the pelting sand. White buildings turn a dirty red color and life goes on as usual,ʼN Shāʼal-Lh (God willing).