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November 13, 2008

I want fifty

I have already written on the subject of people who have been strangled by their own turbans. Yesterday Hamma told me of an equally strange and unfortunate death which occurred in Djibo last market day. Hamma sells sheep in the animal market and is a good source of ovine current affairs.

Wednesday 5 November 2008. A man took his sheep to Djibo market. It was a fine ram and the man was hoping to make at least fifty thousand CFA ($100) on the sale.

A Fulani herder approached the man and said, 'I'll give you forty-five thousand CFA for your ram.'
'No,' replied the man. 'I want fifty.'
The herder went away.

A marabout approached and said, 'I'll give you forty-five thousand CFA for your ram.'
'No,' replied the man. 'I want fifty.'
The marabout went away.

A merchant approached and said,' I'll give you forty-five thousand CFA for your ram.'
'No,' said the man. 'I want fifty.'
The merchant went away.

No one was willing to buy the ram at fifty thousand CFA, so the man took it back home with him and tied it to one of the upright poles of his shade shelter. He noticed that the time was now two o'clock so he bowed down there and then to perform his sallifana prayers.

As the man straightened up for his third Allahu Akbar the ram flew at him and butted him savagely on the forehead, causing a haemorrhage. In the early hours of the morning, the man died in hospital.

Posted by sahelsteve at November 13, 2008 12:22 PM