Photograph taken by Plan staff

Tobaye-Tobaye

Tobaye-tobaye: a happy end to the fasting

During 'Tobaye-Tobaye', which takes place on the 10th night of every Ramadan month, children organise themselves in small groups of friends and go from compound to compound to wish people a happy end to the fasting day.

For the event, one child (pictured) has been carefully decorated with white clay, dressed with old mats, calabashes, worn out shoes, tiny cans, and crowned with feathers.

When in front of the compound, he starts hopping like a rabbit, stretching the calabash, making gestures in all directions, rolling up all around while the others clap their hands singing in chorus: “rabbit, rabbit if the owner of the house is asleep, you must awake him”.

Their reward is sugar, food and sometimes money. They wish the giver to have many children, who can work in an office, farm, go fishing, and study. These are all symbols of wealth.

It is helps children create and reinforce brotherly and friendly ties. When two groups come across one another, they usually combine into a more united and organized one.

On the eve of the Ramadan feast, they organise a great celebration including dancing and singing. In short, it becomes a small carnival.