Dog Days of Summer, Literally.

Yesterday Mr. Kate approached me with some terrifying news: this week is the week that everyone eats dogs.

Yes, dogs. Cute little puppies.

Please don't eat us!

Every year, there is a Kabiye coming-of-age ceremony, Evala, during the first week of July. During Evala, all boys between the ages of 15 and 18 must kill a dog. After killing the dog, these boys, surrounded by their families, go to a big field where they meet up with boys from surrounding villages. These boys, representing their villages, fight each other until one village is declared the winner.

Brick, where did you get a hand grenade?

After the fight everyone is exhausted and hungry, so they all go to the boy warriors' houses and eat the dog stew that has been simmering for hours during the fight. I have been told that it is delicious. The person telling me this obviously did not know his audience.

This tradition, when recounted to me, was accompanied by several horrifying stories of Peace Corps volunteers and other expats who, after leaving their pets with neighbors during the week of Evala, came home to a "lost dog" and a delightful stew.

Needless to say, these fat, delicious-looking dogs will be locked in the house this week.

Who, us?