Xooy

The Xooy (meaning "macerate" in Serer, sometimes spelled Xoy or Khoy) is a Serer divination ceremony held once a year in Fatick, Senegal. The Xooy is one of the most important and well known ceremonies in the Serer religious calendar, and is a national event in Senegal's cultural calendar which attracts government officials and dignitaries. The ceremony is held yearly at the Centre MALANGO in Sine, Senegal and attracts a large crowd from Senegal, and Serers from neighbouring Gambia and the diaspora. It is somewhat of a yearly pilgrimage. The Lebou also attend the ceremony in homage to their Serer ancestors. The Lebou genies are actual the Serer pangool. The Xooy takes place around late May early June before the rainy season where the Serer high priests and priestesses—the Saltigue dressed in their traditional gowns and hats takes centre stage to divine the future. There is a master of ceremonies, and as the public are seated in a circle, each Saltigue enters the circle in turn and give their divination on matters relating to the weather, politics, economics, health, etc. The ceremony goes on for two days (sometimes more)—and throughout the night—accompanied by the rhythm of drums. The Serer people have traditionally been farmers, cattle herders, boat builders and fisher people. The Xooy therefore serves both a religious and agricultural function. The Xooy should not be confused with the Raan festival, which is another major event in the Serer religious calendar. The Xooy is organized by MALANGO, whilst the Raan is organized and presided over by the Joof family—at their ancestral home in Tukar. The Xooy takes place in late May early June, whilst the Raan takes place yearly on the second Thursday in April after the appearance of the new moon On the last day of the Xooy ceremony, the Serer cosmological star Yoonir is drawn on the ground and surrounded by saltigues and watchers. A fire is lit, and a calabash containing sacred water is placed by its side. A priest would then sip some of the water and blow it onto the fire.