Sheep BBQ on the Roof

In addition to Thanksgiving, which mamacat came over to celebrate with us, we wanted to throw a Missoui (anyone know how to spell this? pronounced mish-wee), which is basically a sheep fest. It's tradition here to do this when you have a special guest. I think it originates from Morrocco or the arab world. We usually throw these things on our roof. The sheep is served with rice or fonio or potatoes as your starch. You get this onion sauce as an accompaniment and sometimes a salad on the side as well, and bread. We've actually thrown about 4 of these so the staff and we can pretty much work like clock-work to pull one of these fetes together. This time, however, we were going to invite all of Brook's office so this meant that we were expecting upwards of 30 people. One medium-sized sheep was not going to cut it. So we talked to Danfaga (night guardian at our home here) about looking into getting a baby cow (read: small-sized cow); that or get two small sheep, which would be more tender. Around and around we go, and it becomes clear that the cow route is going to be really expensive. So we drop the cow option and opt for 2 small sheep instead. Since I was out of town traveling with mother, Brook unfortunately had to be the contact for Danfaga and his bargaining for the sheep. Apparently Danfaga kept coming back several times in the last day with a new price that the sheep owners gave him (all of which were over our 'last price'). Brook felt like he was going to strangle Danfaga but finally we got the sheep.

One of the sheep was really loud and annoying, so I was anxious for Friday to come so we could just get him in the bread ovens! We usually take a picture of Danfaga and the sheep (and sometimes with the person who we are honoring), but it just didn't pan out this time. The next morning comes and I guess because it's two sheep, it seems to be taking a long time for them to clean up the sheep and get them ready for the kitchen to be stuffed and spiced up. Binta (the maid) called one of her girlfriends to come over to help and they were waiting for the sheep. Binta said the sheep was dirty and on the ground so I go out and do an inspection of the sheep. the sheep are hanging from a nubby tree we have and have been washed. Supposedly the guys say, they are going to clean the sheep again before they give it to Binta. I inform Binta of this and ask everyone if they are okay to continue working while I take mother into town to go to the tailors. Everyone says fine.

Not 10 minutes we are in town when Brook says that a big fight has erupted at the house over the sheep. So I drop mom off in the middle of the market and go back to see what the deal is. Evidently the sheep is now in the kitchen and Binta says how dirty it is... blah blah blah. So I go outside and the guys are complaining about Binta, so we all are outside and Danfaga and Binta are yelling at each other with the sheep lying stuffed in this plastic wash tub. Danfaga was claiming that he and Roger (day guardian) are the guys and they clean the sheep and that is their job and Binta's job as the chick is to be in the kitchen and await for the sheep. Binta claims that the sheep should be cleaned and they haven't done their job. So finally I managed to get a word in edgewise at them yelling at each other and ask Danfaga if the sheep is ready for the kitchen (and if it is clean). Danfaga says no. He starts yelling that she took the sheep into the kitchen before it was ready. So I say, Okay, Danfaga take the sheep back and clean it and when it is done bring it to Binta. Now normally I would think that would work and everyone would say okay and move on. But I think they were into yelling at each other so they continue yelling at each other with their accusations. Blah. So I tell them again (actually probably about 4 times total) and finally just tell them to shut up (are we in high school?) and get on with things. Roger, the day guardian, was just sitting there closeby, seemingly somewhat amused by the whole fight. He said, "you know we told you that we were going to finish the sheep and give it to her when we were done." But I guess she took the sheep before it was ready so that caused a big ruckus. sigh. Okay everyone is back to their respective sheep stations and I get back on my moped to go find mother wandering around in the market.

The sheep goes into the bread ovens (we rent space in local, fireburning bread ovens) at 2:30 and things seem okay. All is quiet on the sheep front. (well he's been quiet since the morning but it was everyone else all up in a rowl). The sheep is supposed to come out at 6 and Binta and her friend go over to the bread ovens with their tubs to pick up the sheep. Well 6 comes and goes and so does 6:30. Finally 7pm comes and still no Binta, no sheep. People are supposed to come at 7:30. Whoops. So we call Binta and I guess the bread makers in town went on strike for the day (Good night!) so the bread ovens weren't warm when they put the sheep in (because no one was working), so it was taking longer to cook the sheep. It was estimated that the sheep woudl come out at 7:30. So.... I say that Binta can come back and finish working on the extras for the fete (salad, etc) and the friend can wait at the ovens for the sheep. Finally the sheep comes around 7:40 and people have already started to come over. Brook is antsy (because he's Mr. Time and that's cool) so he's in host mode while I stay in the kitchen and work on things there.

Due to several circumstances, there were several people who couldn't make it so we actually were fine on the sheep per person numbers. Everyone seemed to have a good time (Mom befriended a little 8-year old girl who belongs to a friend of ours) and go back at least 2 to 3 times for more sheep ++. Whew. It was more fuss than it usually is but it worked out fine (as these things usually do). Anyway, the next big challenge was to find a turkey for Thanksgiving... coming the following week... if you thought the cow and/or sheep escapade was a rigamarole... we now come to the Turkey!