APPENDIX XI
Philip Askell Benton translation
FESTIVALS IN BORNU
Date. Kanuri Name. Arabic Name. Notes.
10th Moharrem Ngumori Tsuro-mbulo-be Ashura Day of creation of Adam and Eve, and of the first fall of rain. Every one in Bornu kills a fowl. ‘The feast of the belly-filling.’ In Kanuri ‘tsuro’ = belly, and ‘yimbuluskin’ = I fill. The day is sacred to Shiah Moslems as the anniversary of the death of the martyr Hussein. According to Michell, An Egyptian Calendar, p. 74, a particular dish called ‘ashura’ is made on this day.[548]
Last Wednesday in Safar Moddua Laraban-ganí-be Arbaa Mayidur Said to be the day of the last bath of the prophet. He died fourteen days after it. On this day prayer is offered for averting trouble during the year.
The Kanuri name means literally ‘The telling of beads of Wednesday-not’, i.e. no more Wednesdays, the last Wednesday of the month.
12th Rabi-el-owwal Ngumori Lebbi Lowal-be Mulid en-Nebi Birthday of Mohamet. This is the chief festival in Bornu.
15th Shaaban Ngumori Nussufu Shaaban-be Leylet en-Nusf min Shaaban (called in India ‘Shab i Barat’) On this night Allah registers the good and evil deeds of mankind. The Kanuri name means literally ‘the festival of half Shaaban’, i.e. the Mid-Shaaban festival.
1st Showwal Ngumori Asham-be Id el-Fitr, Turkish ‘Ramazan Bairam’ First day after the Ramadan fast. This is the chief festival among the Hausas. In Kanuri ‘asham’ = fast.
10th Zu’l Heggeh Ngumori Laya-be Id el-Kebir, Turkish ‘Kurban Bairam’ Ram festival. Commemorates Abraham’s attempted sacrifice of Ishmael (not of Isaac as according to the Old Testament).