Adapted from a report by an Alliance international worker serving in Senegal, West Africa
Earlier this month, followers of a major world religion celebrated a holiday known in Senegal as Tabaski (“Sacrifice Feast”). This several-day’s long festival commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to obey God’s command to sacrifice his son.
Families in Senegal scrimp and save to purchase a sheep to sacrifice during the festival, the country’s most important annual holiday. This year, an estimated 750,000 sheep were needed to meet the demand.
Sheep Shortage
But five days before Tabaski, just 400,000 sheep were recorded on the domestic market in Senegal. The scarcity meant many families were left without an offering to God—a covering to atone for the forgiveness of their sins.
Since vendors want the highest price for their sheep and goats during this annual market that brings huge profits, they take their livestock to nearby ocean beaches to scrub them down. (Going to the beach can be an experience during the weeks leading up to Tabaski!)
A spotless ram can sell for hundreds of dollars during the holiday. It is a steep price for most families, since the average monthly household income in Senegal is little more than $200 a month.
A Side of Ram
Once a family has purchased and sacrificed their animal, they divide the meat into three equal parts.
An important aspect of Tabaski is blessing others with the meat. So when the sheep or ram is sacrificed and a portion is saved for the family, a third is given to the poor. The remaining third is divided and shared with neighbors and loved ones during door-to-door visits in the community.
Pray that our Tabaski-celebrating neighbors and friends will experience the true blessing of knowing the Lamb of God (see John 1:29), who was sacrificed to take away the sin of the world!