How Young African Muslims Commemorate The Holy Month Of Ramadan

I was born and raised Christian in Kenya, a predominantly Christian country. I now live in Senegal – a predominantly Muslim country where there is religious solidarity between the Muslim and Christian population. Senegal's first President, Leopold Sedar Senghor, was Christian. This was not considered a big deal even if the Christian population in the country has always been less than 5%. Christians and Muslims celebrate religious festivals together, with special meals being shared with one's friends and neighbours during Eid, Tabaski, Christmas, Easter and other holidays. I know it's a privilege to live in a country where religious differences do not tear communities apart. A few years back, I wrote about celebrating Christmas in Senegal.

This is why this particular article makes me smile. While I have not lived through any of the experiences that the writers have, I can reflect on the joy of family, sharing, and gratitude that come with festivals that one's family takes part in. I'm not particularly religious, but Christmas with my extended family in Kenya is one of my best times of the year. It brings so many memories of goat meat, laughter, Christmas carols by Boney M., flipping through family albums etc. 

And in a world that sometimes reminds us so much of what makes us different, it is always heart-warming to see what unites us. 

We have this tradition in Sierra Leone called 'Sunnahkati'...It refers to cooking a large meal or meals for your dearest and nearest and it tends to be anything from broths, to plantain, chicken or fried fish. Growing up, I always found that part of Ramadan exciting because it was an opportunity to go and visit friends and family members I had not seen in a long time...Because feeding others and maintaining good relations with our families are seen as good actions, it's an opportunity to seek multiple good works and find the value in those things that we take for granted today.