I want to write about this one because it was our first and reading it in my diary shows a freshness that I want to share - and it was 1995 and such ceremonies have moved on to some extent.
We expected that the 'day' would in fact take all day would in fact take all day, so I needed to irrigate the nursery early but Big E had the hose filling a 1000 litre tank for a friend of his, so I had to cool my heels until he had finished. I had arranged to pick up Missy at 9:15 so I was a bit conscious of time. I operated two watering cans at once (filling one while emptying the other) and did manage to get it done expeditiously despite several people wanting to have a word with me and Mama B insisting I eat pieces of roasted meat she had prepared as part of the celebrations. It was a big day because Thaday's mother was Big E's senior sister.
I picked up Missy on time, but on our return Baraka was concerned.
"There is a problem," he said, "There are nine of us to go with you."
"The Maruti is a small car," I replied, " it only hold six." But I had known I was part of the transport arrangements.
Mags piped up that after all, three were kids! Nai, Monika and the cheeky Joseph.
It is not unusual to be well-loaded and once everyone was in, I set off with a stop at Naabi Hills Bar to collect a crate of soda and a newspaper wrapped bottle - Big E's contribution to the event.
The Maruti was low on her springs - Mama B sat in front with me and the rest jammed in the rear - Mags, Missy, Baraka, Daniel, Nai, Monika and Joseph.
The church at Ilboru was near Mo & Jo's house, so I dropped my passengers and parked the Maruti in the shade within their compound. I walked back to the church and joined the throng of people trying to squeeze in. I had no idea where Mags and Co were but a wave showed me their location. I had to clamber over people and squeeze among others to reach my saved seat and once there I could look around.
The church was was actually still being built, which is typical - building progresses when funds become available and most building are erected in phases. This was an ambitious project and would be a grand church.
The place was jam-packed! Our invitation says a 9:30 start, but it seemed to mean 'start to arrive'! The service began a little after 10:00 and people were still arriving at 11:15! And wanting a seat. You know we never really became used to these late starts because we always seemed to arrive at everything - early and accepted the delays.
There were two ushers - one in particular, a gaunt, slightly stooped man, dressed in a white suit, that was decorated with a red rose posy, roamed up and down the isles like some demented vulture eyeing and swooping on the slightest gap on a pew so he could fill it with one of the standing guests. He would pick on children too and remove them to be replaced by an adult.
For a long time the kids with us evaded vulture man's eagle eye, but at about 11:00 he tapped them on the shoulder and they had to move out, but we did not 'banana' enough for his liking and he hit Mag's shoulder with his hymn book to show who was boss her, so we squeezed in again like a bunch of bananas.
The service was of course in Swahili and seemed to us to be similar to a confirmation in our part of the world - save for the language. Three choirs sang beautifully as Tanzanian choirs do and their talents we applauded.
There were 50 kids to be processed - mainly girls all dressed up in their finery; white, with frills, bonnets, gloves and the trimmings - I guesses their parents had parted with a lot of money.
Despite the tight throng of people celebrating the occasion, the church made sure the revenue gathering process went smoothly, and it always does with the congregation lining up to pace the offering under the watchful eye of the pastor. The after to service the throng unpacked to form chaos outside because it was then parent place colourful leis around the necks of their offspring.
We again piled into the Maruti - this time no quite so orderly - and Baraka directed me through a rabbit warren of tracks and banana plantations to the bumpy, dusty rough road that led to Glory's house.
Everyone was happy to disembark!
Oops couldn't quite line these picks up!
A scrim shelter had been erected for the High Table to protect the occupant from the hot sun.
The High Table was decorated and laid out with the best of the soda and eating gear. The kangas were tied like huge butterflies very colourful and what else would you expect for such an occasion?
The top photo is of the High Table and the decoration, the middle pic is the people sitting there - and we were elevated into it. The other is of a singing group encouraging guests to bring up their gifts.
Because we were first there because many would have to travel on transport of a larger kind, and we also took a water melon there to be served out. While we waited,we sat on some forms near the back but in the shade. But we were not allowed to sit there for long as we were ushered in to the High Table.
We heard the the Landrover [that Josiah had borrowed to transport guests] arrive and the women trilled in greeting 'piga vigaligali' a sound of joy! Thaday was with them. Poor guy had to sit on his own in the shelter with us and had none of his mates with him. He looked lonely and on his big day! Naturally enough he was shy to us.
Mama Baraka and some other women (all Aunties) took him into the shelter.
Throughout the ceremony Thaday sat stoically, not smiling - I think this is to honour the parents.
Shortly after the main ceremony, Thaday went inside and changed into a flash suit and had the lei of Christmas decorations draped around his neck by his parents.
A young man performed Grace and after water was brought to nawa, wash hands, food was brought out. Spoons were issued to us but is more usual for people to use their fingers - and later it was more usual for us. At the High Table, the food was in large dishes for us to ladle out ourselves, but the rest were given platefuls.
The menu was rice, pilau, tokosa (stewed meat and veges with soup), salad (made from cooked cabbage rather than lettuce) and roast banana to be swilled down with a soda - or two or three!
The cake (keki) was marched in accompanied by singing women [often keki is actually a goat, sort of spit roasted but no doubt the boy requested the sponge cake - after all these are the meat-loving Maasai]. The cake was cut and the boy fed his parents with some them family members and anyone else of even remote importance - we qualified.
We were full but 'pudding' consisted of another couple of roasted bananas, roasted meat and some roasted spuds.
Then the young women came out singing:-
Ni zawadi kwa mtoto ni zawadi eh,
hata kama ni kidogo ni zawadi eh.
Translated:-
Its a gift for the child
even if its small, it's still a [important] gift.
We all joined in the line to give the lad his gift and the young women sang all the time - I thought this was fun and enjoyed the experience.
I spotted three old Maasai guys sitting together, they each ate another three plates of food and to boot cleaned up some unfinished plates left by guests! Hollow legs!
Glory wanted us to take a photo and we were delayed a bit from making our exit. We noticed some whispering and so inside we were ushered into Glory's bedroom. I sat on a bed next to Mama B and she enjoyed the bounce I gave her (laughing).
We were each given a bottle of Safari Larger and Mama B received a bottle of Konyagi as well! There was no bottle opener and there was a murmur of approval when I flicked off the top the way that was usual in forestry circles.
Young Daniel brought in a half glass of raspberry with him, and I though 'good lad', but Mama B filled the glass with Konyagi! Gradually his eyes turned inward and he became quiet - his chin rested on his chest!
Just why we had to all cram into the bedroom, I will never know, but when I managed to finally push all my passengers into the Maruti we headed back down the road for home where I dropped off everyone before taking Missy back to her house.
At home there was no electricity and no water, but I did not particularly care.
We expected that the 'day' would in fact take all day would in fact take all day, so I needed to irrigate the nursery early but Big E had the hose filling a 1000 litre tank for a friend of his, so I had to cool my heels until he had finished. I had arranged to pick up Missy at 9:15 so I was a bit conscious of time. I operated two watering cans at once (filling one while emptying the other) and did manage to get it done expeditiously despite several people wanting to have a word with me and Mama B insisting I eat pieces of roasted meat she had prepared as part of the celebrations. It was a big day because Thaday's mother was Big E's senior sister.
I picked up Missy on time, but on our return Baraka was concerned.
"There is a problem," he said, "There are nine of us to go with you."
"The Maruti is a small car," I replied, " it only hold six." But I had known I was part of the transport arrangements.
Mags piped up that after all, three were kids! Nai, Monika and the cheeky Joseph.
It is not unusual to be well-loaded and once everyone was in, I set off with a stop at Naabi Hills Bar to collect a crate of soda and a newspaper wrapped bottle - Big E's contribution to the event.
The Maruti was low on her springs - Mama B sat in front with me and the rest jammed in the rear - Mags, Missy, Baraka, Daniel, Nai, Monika and Joseph.
The church at Ilboru was near Mo & Jo's house, so I dropped my passengers and parked the Maruti in the shade within their compound. I walked back to the church and joined the throng of people trying to squeeze in. I had no idea where Mags and Co were but a wave showed me their location. I had to clamber over people and squeeze among others to reach my saved seat and once there I could look around.
The church was was actually still being built, which is typical - building progresses when funds become available and most building are erected in phases. This was an ambitious project and would be a grand church.
The place was jam-packed! Our invitation says a 9:30 start, but it seemed to mean 'start to arrive'! The service began a little after 10:00 and people were still arriving at 11:15! And wanting a seat. You know we never really became used to these late starts because we always seemed to arrive at everything - early and accepted the delays.
There were two ushers - one in particular, a gaunt, slightly stooped man, dressed in a white suit, that was decorated with a red rose posy, roamed up and down the isles like some demented vulture eyeing and swooping on the slightest gap on a pew so he could fill it with one of the standing guests. He would pick on children too and remove them to be replaced by an adult.
For a long time the kids with us evaded vulture man's eagle eye, but at about 11:00 he tapped them on the shoulder and they had to move out, but we did not 'banana' enough for his liking and he hit Mag's shoulder with his hymn book to show who was boss her, so we squeezed in again like a bunch of bananas.
The service was of course in Swahili and seemed to us to be similar to a confirmation in our part of the world - save for the language. Three choirs sang beautifully as Tanzanian choirs do and their talents we applauded.
There were 50 kids to be processed - mainly girls all dressed up in their finery; white, with frills, bonnets, gloves and the trimmings - I guesses their parents had parted with a lot of money.
Despite the tight throng of people celebrating the occasion, the church made sure the revenue gathering process went smoothly, and it always does with the congregation lining up to pace the offering under the watchful eye of the pastor. The after to service the throng unpacked to form chaos outside because it was then parent place colourful leis around the necks of their offspring.
We again piled into the Maruti - this time no quite so orderly - and Baraka directed me through a rabbit warren of tracks and banana plantations to the bumpy, dusty rough road that led to Glory's house.
Everyone was happy to disembark!
Oops couldn't quite line these picks up!A scrim shelter had been erected for the High Table to protect the occupant from the hot sun.
The High Table was decorated and laid out with the best of the soda and eating gear. The kangas were tied like huge butterflies very colourful and what else would you expect for such an occasion?
The top photo is of the High Table and the decoration, the middle pic is the people sitting there - and we were elevated into it. The other is of a singing group encouraging guests to bring up their gifts.
Because we were first there because many would have to travel on transport of a larger kind, and we also took a water melon there to be served out. While we waited,we sat on some forms near the back but in the shade. But we were not allowed to sit there for long as we were ushered in to the High Table.
We heard the the Landrover [that Josiah had borrowed to transport guests] arrive and the women trilled in greeting 'piga vigaligali' a sound of joy! Thaday was with them. Poor guy had to sit on his own in the shelter with us and had none of his mates with him. He looked lonely and on his big day! Naturally enough he was shy to us.
Mama Baraka and some other women (all Aunties) took him into the shelter.
Throughout the ceremony Thaday sat stoically, not smiling - I think this is to honour the parents.
Shortly after the main ceremony, Thaday went inside and changed into a flash suit and had the lei of Christmas decorations draped around his neck by his parents.
A young man performed Grace and after water was brought to nawa, wash hands, food was brought out. Spoons were issued to us but is more usual for people to use their fingers - and later it was more usual for us. At the High Table, the food was in large dishes for us to ladle out ourselves, but the rest were given platefuls.
The menu was rice, pilau, tokosa (stewed meat and veges with soup), salad (made from cooked cabbage rather than lettuce) and roast banana to be swilled down with a soda - or two or three!
The cake (keki) was marched in accompanied by singing women [often keki is actually a goat, sort of spit roasted but no doubt the boy requested the sponge cake - after all these are the meat-loving Maasai]. The cake was cut and the boy fed his parents with some them family members and anyone else of even remote importance - we qualified.
We were full but 'pudding' consisted of another couple of roasted bananas, roasted meat and some roasted spuds.
Then the young women came out singing:-
Ni zawadi kwa mtoto ni zawadi eh,
hata kama ni kidogo ni zawadi eh.
Translated:-
Its a gift for the child
even if its small, it's still a [important] gift.
We all joined in the line to give the lad his gift and the young women sang all the time - I thought this was fun and enjoyed the experience.
I spotted three old Maasai guys sitting together, they each ate another three plates of food and to boot cleaned up some unfinished plates left by guests! Hollow legs!
Glory wanted us to take a photo and we were delayed a bit from making our exit. We noticed some whispering and so inside we were ushered into Glory's bedroom. I sat on a bed next to Mama B and she enjoyed the bounce I gave her (laughing).
We were each given a bottle of Safari Larger and Mama B received a bottle of Konyagi as well! There was no bottle opener and there was a murmur of approval when I flicked off the top the way that was usual in forestry circles.
Young Daniel brought in a half glass of raspberry with him, and I though 'good lad', but Mama B filled the glass with Konyagi! Gradually his eyes turned inward and he became quiet - his chin rested on his chest!
Just why we had to all cram into the bedroom, I will never know, but when I managed to finally push all my passengers into the Maruti we headed back down the road for home where I dropped off everyone before taking Missy back to her house.
At home there was no electricity and no water, but I did not particularly care.
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