One of the ladies at the center had a baby so we were invited to the Saboowa! So this event happens 7 days after the baby is born! This was a fascinating event to attend.
Highlights included:
-stringing beans to hand out to guests as lucky charms to hang in your home. The luck comes from the baby apparently.
-clanging pots and pans together right near the babies head.
-putting the baby in a decorated basket (think Easter basket) and picking up and dropping the basket with the baby in it 3 inches off the ground several times and shaking it.
-the new mother walks over the basket holding the baby 7 times while the women around her clap, sing and doing the typical celebratory call that sounds like Xena the warrior princess.
-parading down the stairs with the baby in something that resembles a conga line so that everyone knows what you are celebrating.
-and my favorite: throwing a mixture of dried rice, salt, dried beans, and spices around the home to ward off any evil eye spirits that might harm the baby.
Needless to say these were all ingredients for one fun party!
