Drums beat wildly on the first day of the harvest festival in Juffure. Kunta has seen this day of ceremony many times now that he is older, but he is still amazed at the writhing, squirming, and lurching dances of his kinfolk all wearing strange masks and acting out scary stories. A thrill rises in Kunta when he sees his own father join in the dance by kicking his knees up, beating up the dust, lurching forward, jolting backward, and then lunging forward while he hammers his chest. Although Kunta had seen such a dance many times and now watches others join in Omoro’s rhythm, this is the first time that Kunta himself is compelled to join in. The entire village spends the whole day dancing, not even stopping to eat.

The second day of the harvest festival always begins with a parade of important tribe members. The start of the parade is always “the arafang, the alimamo, the senior elders, the hunters, the wrestlers” and others whom the Council of Elders names for their important deeds. Everyone cheers and applauds as each important person gets a chance to strut with pride. When the parade circles the travelers’ tree, Kunta and the boys his age begin their own “important” parade. Both Omoro and Binta feel proud of their son when Kunta takes his turn in the spotlight.

Then comes the food! The kitchen in every mud hut is open to anyone who wants to partake in the delicious stews and rice dishes and meats, even bowls of fruit kept full by the Mandika maidens.

In between feasts, Kunta and his friends return to the travelers’ tree to meet the strangers who travel between villages to share in the fun. These travelers come to feast and trade, bringing new wares that the people of Juffure desire, such as salt bars, exotic nuts, and colored cloths. Some travelers are musicians who play for a small fee or storytelling griots who send a hush over the crowds with their amazing stories. Particularly special are the religious griots, who prophesy and warn of messages from Allah. The only strangers not welcome in Juffure are the pagans. These “infidels” sell only tobacco and snuff and alcohol: all considered evil to the Mandinka tribe.

During the sixth day of the harvest festival, an “insulting” drumbeat is heard, announcing wrestlers from another tribe vowing to take down the Juffure wrestlers. Suddenly the Juffure villagers beat back the same warning as the wrestlers meet, grease up, and compete, ending only when the opponent is thrown up into the air and then down onto his back. Juffare wins by one fall and the village erupts in cheers. The entire tribe then welcomes the rivals to enjoy the harvest festival among them. And, of course, Kunta and his friends wrestle as well, showing their adoration for the great strength of these warriors.

Suddenly, the Mandinka maidens tie bells to the wrestlers’ arms and legs while they flail in their own special wrestling dance. The maidens remove their tiko head coverings to see if eligible bachelors might retrieve them: an offer of pending marriage. Tonight, one of the visiting wrestlers favors one of the Mandinka maidens, a rare treat! Kunta, however, is not interested in this display and considers the excitement to be over.