It is almost impossible to describe our incredible day yesterday, but we’ll try. First of all, it was gorgeous, cool during the day and in the evening the moon was out and it was almost full.
In the morning we began teaching another successful session with the women from Sikasso. We discussed group work and they responded quite well except for one woman who when asked to demonstrate what poor group work might look like was busy texting on her cell phone. At first we thought this might be part of her skit, but no, she really wanted the whole class to wait for her while she finished her message in class. We were not so impressed. After school we had incredible naps and then headed back to camp for the afternoon session. This time Sara was in sports and I made paper flowers with the campers. We have bunches of these tissue paper flowers and will tie them around the poles of our outdoor stage to decorate for our Hippo Play. During the second art group, Sara and I worked together to design leaves with the students. They used funky scissors to cut out their leaves and then wrote a message about the environment on one side. We’re gong to paste all the leaves together and create giant trees for the set for the Hippo play. It should also be noted, that on the way from sports to art, Sara was walking with Maria who slipped on cow dung and skidded down the path to the school. Pauvre Maria -- but she was indeed a good sport. After camp, we walked home with Christane and another camper who was bullying her. Christane is one of the family kids and therefore like our sister. Sara chastised the bully in French and a random woman on the corner started translating in Bambara. Oh Mali!
When we came home, we heard drums nearby and followed them. Two houses down there was a huge circle of women and children and incredible arms flapping, legs twisting booty shaking African dance. We stood on the sidelines for a second and then were offered chairs. We watched in awe as energy burst from this circle and soon we were invited to dance with the women. A little embarrassed at first, we joined their circle and danced (we decided it was like the hora). Then they wanted us to do a duet in front of the drummers, so we wriggled and shook for our neighbors, and we’re certain they will be talking about the dancing tubabu (white women) for weeks.
After the dance, we introduced ourselves to the elders, beautiful women who led the circle n song and dance and passed out bonbons. We thanked them and learned that it was a pre-weddng party for Djenneba (t’s unclear who Djenneba is). The actual wedding will begin on Thursday at 10 and we’re invited (so is the whole village, but we felt special). They seemed so happy to have us there and we met the griot or storyteller/singer who sang a beautiful song about Sara’s name (we have no idea what she was singing, but t was beautiful).
Then we walked through town, picked up lollipops and sparkling apple and grapefruit juice for snacks and watched the sunset.
After dinner we heard more music, but this time hp hop. We followed the loud speakers a few
houses over and watched another dance get started. Immediately, we got chars n the VIP section with the wedding party. Our family kids soon found us and sat by our feet. With hundreds of other people, we watched the bridesmaids prance around and them groomsmen lip synch to American rap. Finally we were invited to join the wedding party in the center of the circle and danced for all of Kati. We’re not sure how many people were there, but Sara thinks close to 1,000.
We can’t wait for the wedding on Thursday. Maybe there will be another party tonight.
Love and hugs!
In the morning we began teaching another successful session with the women from Sikasso. We discussed group work and they responded quite well except for one woman who when asked to demonstrate what poor group work might look like was busy texting on her cell phone. At first we thought this might be part of her skit, but no, she really wanted the whole class to wait for her while she finished her message in class. We were not so impressed. After school we had incredible naps and then headed back to camp for the afternoon session. This time Sara was in sports and I made paper flowers with the campers. We have bunches of these tissue paper flowers and will tie them around the poles of our outdoor stage to decorate for our Hippo Play. During the second art group, Sara and I worked together to design leaves with the students. They used funky scissors to cut out their leaves and then wrote a message about the environment on one side. We’re gong to paste all the leaves together and create giant trees for the set for the Hippo play. It should also be noted, that on the way from sports to art, Sara was walking with Maria who slipped on cow dung and skidded down the path to the school. Pauvre Maria -- but she was indeed a good sport. After camp, we walked home with Christane and another camper who was bullying her. Christane is one of the family kids and therefore like our sister. Sara chastised the bully in French and a random woman on the corner started translating in Bambara. Oh Mali!
When we came home, we heard drums nearby and followed them. Two houses down there was a huge circle of women and children and incredible arms flapping, legs twisting booty shaking African dance. We stood on the sidelines for a second and then were offered chairs. We watched in awe as energy burst from this circle and soon we were invited to dance with the women. A little embarrassed at first, we joined their circle and danced (we decided it was like the hora). Then they wanted us to do a duet in front of the drummers, so we wriggled and shook for our neighbors, and we’re certain they will be talking about the dancing tubabu (white women) for weeks.After the dance, we introduced ourselves to the elders, beautiful women who led the circle n song and dance and passed out bonbons. We thanked them and learned that it was a pre-weddng party for Djenneba (t’s unclear who Djenneba is). The actual wedding will begin on Thursday at 10 and we’re invited (so is the whole village, but we felt special). They seemed so happy to have us there and we met the griot or storyteller/singer who sang a beautiful song about Sara’s name (we have no idea what she was singing, but t was beautiful).
Then we walked through town, picked up lollipops and sparkling apple and grapefruit juice for snacks and watched the sunset.
After dinner we heard more music, but this time hp hop. We followed the loud speakers a few
houses over and watched another dance get started. Immediately, we got chars n the VIP section with the wedding party. Our family kids soon found us and sat by our feet. With hundreds of other people, we watched the bridesmaids prance around and them groomsmen lip synch to American rap. Finally we were invited to join the wedding party in the center of the circle and danced for all of Kati. We’re not sure how many people were there, but Sara thinks close to 1,000.We can’t wait for the wedding on Thursday. Maybe there will be another party tonight.
Love and hugs!
The wonderful wedding women!
No comments:
Post a Comment