From Ivory Coast, but living in Portugal
Djidja (Yam Festival) in Abbey Land
Part One
Monday, August 10, 2025 – we had just arrived in the village. The car was slowly moving toward Mom’s house, and the street was as silent as a grave. No one was around, as if the village had been emptied of all its active life. The children who usually ran after us were nowhere to be seen. As we moved forward, unease began to take hold of us. It was one of those strange moments when doubt takes over your soul and, if nothing is done, turns into anxiety. Millions of questions filled our minds. What could be happening for this once lively place to be so deserted? Even the cat that loved to nap under the big oak tree at the village entrance wasn’t there. Maybe it had died! This place, once so animated, was now a true tomb. Not a single soul in sight! We continued cautiously, stomachs tied in knots with fear and anxiety. Just a few steps from Mom’s house, we finally saw a human figure waving at us to stop…
Part two
The young man was thin, tall, with a dazed look, panting, almost breathless. He must have run to avoid wasting more time than necessary to reach us and save us from ultimate despair. He was sent by the village chief. He had a mission he couldn’t ignore. With hurried steps, he approached us, his throat still tight from the physical effort he had just made. He finally murmured something barely audible… “The chief… the chief asks you to join everyone at the public square.” So that was the reason for the heavy silence! The entire village—young and old, men and women—had gathered in one place. All the active force was in a single space. An absurd thought crossed my mind, as usual: “One bomb, and no one left!” I smiled at the idea, not proud of it, but we’re not responsible for everything that happens in our heads! And besides, aren’t we free to entertain ourselves? We parked the car and followed him obediently, one behind the other! Like good little soldiers, we were at his mercy. But this young man, who wasn’t enough on his own, who didn’t think for himself, had no idea! As obedient as a dog given a bone… wagging its tail, following you everywhere as if to say: “Thank you, thank you, thank you, master!” What horror! What a degrading life!