My name is Oumar Keita, originally form Guinea, West Africa. I have been living in Missoula Montana, for the past almost 10 years. During that time I have only been back to my home country one time.

Last year, as some of you may know, my brother Sekou Tidiane Keita past away, after a long battle with tuberculosis. Six moths after his passing my stepmother, Kadiatou Camara passed after having a stroke. I was not able to go home for the funeral but raised a little money at that time to help with the double funeral arrangements.

Now that a year has past, I am going to return to Guinea to organize the final memorial or "Labinani" for them. A traditional Labinani is the time that we offer a sacrifice to honor God and help the deceased pass on to a peaceful after life. This a two day long event that happens in my culture starting on a Thursday with the sacrifice of the cow. The cow is then cooked by the women in the village for a large meal for the following day. The Labinani continues on Friday at 12 noon at the Masque and goes until 2pm. At that time everyone travels to my village, where we have the Imam (Muslim Priests) read from the Coran (Quran). After about an hour of reading and praying , it is time to share the meal and hand out offerings of money to the Imam and grieving families.

The money that I am hoping to raise with this Gofundme would go towards purchase of a cow for the sacrifice, and other food needed for the meal. I will also need to provide offerings to the Imam and a gift of money to my family grieving the deceased.

Thank you all for taking he time to read my campaign. It is not often that i get to see my family and to be able to go home and honor my Brother and Stepmother would mean so much. Please help if you can and share.

Albaka (Thank you)

Oumar Keita