"By the Hausa calendar...

or "your" calendar? You know, they are not the same..."

February 16th, 2008
We've organized the second women's meeting in Garen Maigari and are working to establish the first day that the women will begin depositing money into the "caisse"- their bank reserve for the goat loan project.

By the Hausa calendar, they decide to make their monthly deposits ont he 3rd day of every month. Each of the initial 40 women will deposit 250CFA (40 cents) per month which will be used in such cases of replacing a goat that dies or buying medicine to remedy an ailment in the herd of loaned goats. Eventually, as the caisse grows, these women will be able to administer microloans to each other for individual income generating activities. Buying millet during the harvest season at it's lowest price to sell for a high price later on, and buying peanuts to make oil and kuli-kuli (dried peanut pulp), would be common examples.

My patience leaves me for a moment as the chaos expands to the outer circles of women in the group and I am having a difficult time even hearing Ibrihim answer questions although he is standing next to me.
"KU SAURAURA, KU SAURAURA, DON ALLAH!" / "LISTEN EVERYONE, LISTEN, FOR GOD'S SAKE!"
"MU BA YARA BA, WANNAN BABBATU KAMAR TARON YARA, DON ALLAH, BARI HIRA EN JI ABINDA MUKE CE!"
"WE AREN'T CHILDREN, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A CHILDREN'S MEETING. FOR GOD'S SAKE, QUIT TALKING AND LISTEN TO WHAT'S BEING SAID!"

The women quit their chatter for about 45 seconds, and the murmur again starts to build.
But, I smile.
As I scan the group, I see the faces of women here who live the tradition of "cloistering", they are bound to their home during daylight hours, only able to visit friends ro venture out with their husband's permission under the cover of darkness. Cloistering is not only a show of faith in Islam, but one of wealth since the husband has to pay for someone to pull water and retrieve firewood, tasks commonly undertaken by his wife/wives.
There are many cloistered women who've been allowed to attend this day meeting in hopes of receiving a goat. Their excitement, and inability to quit chatting is understandable.

Sai hankuri.
Have patience.