"Lai manda" in the Suriname maroon community the wife brings food and gifts when an inmediate family member of her husband has died. Gifts in the form of pangis (Pangi is a cotton fabric with multi-colored vertical and horizontal stripes, similar to West African kente cloth. It may be used by women for a wrap or a sling to carry a baby, by men for a breech cloth or shoulder cape and for other purposes such as making a hammock) and sheets (usually embroidered) are given to anyone in the deceased close family you wish to comfort. In this case, the deceased is my sister's father-in-law. My family got together to help her prepare food and presents. In the photo below you can see the food covered with handmade embroidered pangi cloths and the gifts ready for transport.
